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Hundreds of drunken drivers nabbed by police

By Wang Jingqiong and Xiang Yiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-19 10:20

A man, stopped by a policeman, has his blood-alcohol level checked on a road in Hanshan county, East China's Anhui province, August 17, 2009. [Asianewsphoto]

A Japanese-style restaurant called Tsukiji in Guangzhou has also experienced a downturn, according to an unnamed manager, who said the crackdown has magnified the economic pains brought by the global recession.

"I am worried that we may not be able to survive with the campaign going on," the manager said.

Some bars and restaurants in Guangzhou have started hiring drivers for their drunken clients.

Related readings:  Penalty too lenient for drunk drivers: survey  War on drink driving  Over 3,000 drunk drivers arrested last weekend

Liu Jiawen, owner of Guangzhou Jintu Car Rental Co, is among the few who have gained from the crackdown.

His company offers driving services for drunken drivers and is so busy that it now takes up to seven days in advance for an appointment.

China Youth Daily recently conducted an online survey last week in response to the campaign.

More than 95 percent of 1,792 participants admit they have witnessed motorists driving after drinking; 44.4 percent say it occurs frequently.

When asked about the reason why so many people drive after drinking, 70 percent chose the answer of "Drivers think they won't be found by the police." About 69 percent answered: "Because the cost of breaking the law is low."

About 81 percent of the participants, when asked about the severity of penalties for driving after drinking in China, said they are too light, while 11.1 percent said they are appropriate. Slightly more than 1 percent said the penalties are too severe, while 6.4 percent said they "don't clearly know the regulations."

Ding Liming, a professor of traffic management from Renmin University, said most motorists are not afraid of driving after drinking because they believe the chances of being caught are slim.

"Some cities are not strict enough in checking illegal. That's why it is difficult to prevent it from happening," Ding said.

The professor said he hopes that strict patrolling will continue after the campaign because drunken driving incidents will rebound quickly without enforcement.

During the two-month campaign, those who drive after drinking and have a blood-alcohol content between 20 mg and 80 mg per 100 ml will have their licenses suspended for three months with a fine of 500 yuan.

Drunken drivers with a blood alcohol content of 80 mg per 100 ml or more are detained for 15 days and stripped of their licenses for six months, with a fine of 2,000 yuan.

If a drunken driver is caught twice within a year, the license will be revoked for two to five years.

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