The transportation of Nuclear weapons ranks as severe business in anyone’s book, but as the Washington Post accounts, some Nuclear weapons chauffeurs forgot. In recent years, United States Energy Department records show there have been sixteen occurrences involving intoxicated Nuclear weapons transportation drivers. The intoxicated drivers did not really operate their transportation cars while underneath the influence. Drivers were imprisoned by law enforcement while in the middle of Nuclear weapons convoy tasks between 2007 and 2009.
Safeguarded assignment had drunk Nuclear weapons drivers
"Secure transportation missions" aren’t the time to stop and tie one on, particularly when the safe transport of nuclear weapons is involved. Reports indicate that various drivers in question checked into various local hotels during long-range tasks. There were "safe harbor" locations for the payloads and automobiles. While the drivers were at hotels, the autos stayed there. A DUI arrest is much worse than public intoxication which is what they were arrested for while drinking at resort bars. The mission could have ended very badly though making it much worse really.
The report made by the National Nuclear Security Administration explains the chauffeurs likely were not driving while intoxicated as there was no evidence. This is something made very clear for the benefit of the drunk Nuclear weapons drivers. Based on the NNSA Office of Safeguarded Transportation, there has been over 100 million miles of safeguarded Nuclear weapons transportation. No release of radiation or fatal accident has happened during that time.
Alcohol testing rules
Every year, each Nuclear weapon transportation driver has to an alcohol consumption test. They are also expected to take them whenever there is reasonable suspicion to issue one. Drivers are prohibited from consuming alcohol within 10 hrs of beginning scheduled work. Agents who show a blood alcohol count of 0.02 or more are sent home.
The NNSA explains that there have been a very few amount of alcohol-related incidents. Any drivers included in these occurrences were immediately removed from their positions. Nuclear weapons transportation is a large enough issue that a zero tolerance policy is needed. But recent occurrences present a "potential vulnerability" within the system that must be addressed, said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns in a statement.
Articles cited
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/22/AR2010112202172.html
‘A potential vulnerability’
youtube.com/watch?v=UtVbODqYN2c
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