Police 'Drunk Driving Crackdown' Leads to Decrease in Accidents and Fatalities... 12 Charged with Aiding and Abetting

Strict Crackdown from September
Seizure of Vehicles of Habitual Drunk Drivers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Since the police launched a focused crackdown on drunk driving in September, the number of drunk driving traffic accidents and fatalities has significantly decreased.

According to the National Police Agency on the 8th, the police have been conducting a focused crackdown on drunk driving for two months since September 18. As a result, there were 1,214 drunk driving accidents and 18 fatalities in September, representing decreases of 16.1% and 5.3%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. In October, the decline was even greater, with 1,179 accidents and 13 fatalities, down 21.2% and 58.1%, respectively.

Due to difficulties in using traditional breathalyzers amid the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this year, the police have introduced measures such as the 'zigzag-type crackdown' and 'contactless breathalyzers' to carry out drunk driving enforcement.

However, as incorrect perceptions such as "drunk driving enforcement has weakened due to COVID-19" spread and the number of drunk driving traffic accidents increased, the police adopted a strict response based on a 'zero-tolerance principle.' Since September, they have been conducting continuous crackdowns by implementing measures including ▲weekly two-day intensive crackdowns ▲punishment of passengers accompanying drunk drivers ▲seizure of vehicles belonging to habitual drunk drivers.

Additionally, during the focused crackdown period, the police have booked 12 passengers who encouraged drunk driving or handed over vehicle keys on charges of aiding and abetting drunk driving. In fact, three passengers were booked in connection with an incident in Busan where a drunk driving vehicle crashed into a roadside food stall, injuring 12 people.

Seizure of vehicles belonging to habitual drunk drivers has also been carried out. For example, on the 21st of last month, the police seized the vehicle of driver A in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, who was driving a truck with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.061% and fatally struck a pedestrian. A had been caught for drunk driving twice in the past five years.

A National Police Agency official emphasized, "We plan to continue regular drunk driving crackdowns through the end of the year to spread the awareness that 'even one drink before driving will result in enforcement' based on the zero-tolerance principle."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.