Social Distancing Eased, Drunk Driving Crackdown Strengthened... Daegu Police Agency Deploys 'New Detector' for Mask Compliance Intensive Crackdown

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Daegu Police Agency announced on the 19th that it will conduct intensive crackdowns to prevent drunk driving accidents and reduce casualties.

Daegu Police Agency anticipated that various gatherings would become more active and drinking occasions would increase due to the easing of social distancing measures following the phased recovery of daily life.

From November 1 to 17, when social distancing was relaxed, the number of drunk driving detections increased by 7.4% compared to the same period last year, totaling 261 cases.

The average daily number of detections was 15.4 cases, which is a 4.8% increase compared to the average of 14.7 cases from January to October this year.

One reason is considered to be the lifting of restrictions on operating hours of restaurants and bars, and the allowance of gatherings of up to 12 people, increasing opportunities for drinking occasions.

The intensive crackdown will be conducted for three months from November through January next year.

The crackdown will be carried out until late at night and early morning by frequently changing the times and locations of enforcement on roads around entertainment districts, commercial areas, and areas with frequent drunk driving accidents.

Ten police stations in Daegu will mobilize task forces to conduct large-scale crackdowns on Friday evenings to prevent drunk driving accidents.

They plan to continue thorough enforcement even during the COVID-19 situation by using the ‘new composite detector’ that detects small amounts of alcohol escaping through masks that are not removed.

A Daegu Police Agency official said, “Drunk driving is a serious crime that takes not only your own life but also the lives of others,” and urged, “If you drink, please be sure to call a designated driver or use public transportation.”

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