Nation cracks down on drunk driving

By Qiu Wei

Motorists across the country are being warned to stay away from alcohol before getting behind the wheel as authorities launch a new campaign to crack down on drunk driving amid an increase of road fatalities in recent months.

The move comes in response to high-profile cases that have drawn the public's ire. A Chengdu drunk driver who killed four people July 23 was subsequently sentenced to death.

On August 7, a drunk driver killed a 16-year-old girl in east Hangzhou.

The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau has intensified round-the-clock monitoring of areas surrounding restaurants and recreational venues and established a flexible work shift to ensure an effective crackdown on drunk driving, according to a statement posted on the bureau's website.

Zhang Chunman, a traffic policeman who was on duty at 9 pm last night at the Dajiaoting Bridge in east Beijing, said he stopped a few trucks to make sure they had proper driving documents and no alcohol on their breath. He said he hadn't found any violators.

"After two days of intensified inspections, drunk driving has dropped dramatically," Zhang, who is in charge of a four-member patrol team, told the Global Times. "No drunk-driving incidents were found after nearly two hours of inspections."

He noted that most of the drivers found to be drunk come from government-affiliated institutions or who are jobless.

During the first six months of this year, there were approximately 222,000 drink driving cases in China, up 8.7 percent year on year, authorities said.

In Beijing, a total of 103 people were killed in 87 crashes related to drunk driving, through Thursday, the bureau said.

An average of more than 1,200 new cars have taken to the roads of Beijing every day this year, according to official statistics through July.

The bureau reported the registration of 261,000 new vehicles from the beginning of January until the end of July, with 97 percent of them being privately owned. The figure was a 9 percent increase from the same period last year.

Constraint seems to be exercised by many of the 5.5 million drivers in Beijing, but laws don't scare everyone.
"Every time I drink alcohol, I have a rest before getting back to driving or ask somebody to give me a ride instead," said Zhao Jingming, a 41-year-old taxi driver.

The veteran motorist, however,acknowledged that during traditional festivals, especially Spring Festival, Zhao said it is be hard to skip the "Ganbei" culture, where refusing an invitation to drink liquor can offend relatives and friends.

Zhao attributed drunk driving to loose regulations.

Zhang Zhuting, a law professor at the Transport Management Institute under the Ministry of Transport, told the Global Times yesterday that the new measures are helpful in letting people know how serious drunk driving is.

"It is lawful to punish drunk drivers in accordance with the strictest terms during these two months," Zhang said.

The Ministry of Public Security has pledged stiffer penalties for confirmed offenders during the campaign, which started Friday and may likely be extended indefinitely.

"No matter who the driver is, or what the reason, any drunk driver will be severely punished. Let drunk driving be a high-tension line that no one dares to touch," said Liu Jinguo, vice minister of public security.

If drunk drivers – those with at least 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood – are caught, their licenses will be suspended for three to six months, and in serious cases of at least 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood the driver will be detained for 15 days. If a drunk driver is caught twice within one year, his or her license will be revoked for two to five years.

A growing problem

However, Zhang, one of the drafters of the Road Traffic Safety Law that was enacted in 2004, said traffic police can't erase the problem alone.

"The incidents of drunk driving in China are much higher than in many other countries, reflecting a contradiction between the traditional drinking culture and the modern transport culture. The ideal way to solve the lingering problem is through self-regulation, with the assistance of the law," Zhang said. "With the economic development (and more automobiles) Chinese society has entered a phase of modern transport, featuring a surge in motor vehicles, frequent role-exchanges between drivers and pedestrians, and a rise in unprofessional drivers. The current level of public understanding and knowledge of road safety is incompatible with their increased access to motor vehicles."

Private car owners make up 95 percent of drunk drivers, Zhang said.

"A social system should be established. The restaurants have the responsibility to prevent drunk customers from driving and provide chauffer services for them," Zhang said.

Zhang Yiwu, a literature professor at Peking University, said the deep-rooted culture of drinking in China can't be used as excuse for drunk driving.

"Tradition can't surpass law," he said. “It is definitely imperative to launch a campaign against the illegal action."

The professor added that urging others to drink is also a bad habit that should be discarded.