Survey: Most Chinese think penalty for drunk driving too light
Survey
:
Most
Chinese
think
penalty
for
drunk
driving
too
light
2009-08-18 13:33:53 GMT2009-08-18 21:33:53 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English
2009-08-18
13:33:53
GMT2009-08-18
21:33:53
(
Beijing
Time
)
Xinhua
English
BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua)--Most Chinese people consider drunk driving impossible to stop in the country while the current law too light for drunk drivers, a survey has found.
BEIJING
,
Aug.
18
(
Xinhua
)
--
Most
Chinese
people
consider
drunk
driving
impossible
to
stop
in
the
country
while
the
current
law
too
light
for
drunk
drivers
,
a
survey
has
found
.
According to the survey done by the China Youth Daily, more than 96% of the 1,792 respondents said people around them had driven after drinking, while more than 81% complained the current penalty was too light, the paper reported Tuesday.
According
to
the
survey
done
by
the
China
Youth
Daily
,
more
than
96
%
of
the
1,792
respondents
said
people
around
them
had
driven
after
drinking
,
while
more
than
81
%
complained
the
current
penalty
was
too
light
,
the
paper
reported
Tuesday
.
Now offenders face a three-to-six month suspension of their driving licenses and detention for up to 15 days in serious cases.
Now
offenders
face
a
three-to-six
month
suspension
of
their
driving
licenses
and
detention
for
up
to
15
days
in
serious
cases
.
Drunk driving has attracted wide public attention in China after several serious accidents in recent months.
Drunk
driving
has
attracted
wide
public
attention
in
China
after
several
serious
accidents
in
recent
months
.
On Aug. 4, a drunk driver in Hangzhou killed a 16-year-old girl.
On
Aug.
4
,
a
drunk
driver
in
Hangzhou
killed
a
16-year-old
girl
.
Two days later, another drunk driver in Shanghai killed a four-year-old boy and injured three others.
Two
days
later
,
another
drunk
driver
in
Shanghai
killed
a
four-year-old
boy
and
injured
three
others
.
Drunk driving is regarded as just traffic violation if no accidents result, according to the Chinese law.
Drunk
driving
is
regarded
as
just
traffic
violation
if
no
accidents
result
,
according
to
the
Chinese
law
.
But some people have called for regarding it as a crime no matter whether it results in serious accidents.
But
some
people
have
called
for
regarding
it
as
a
crime
no
matter
whether
it
results
in
serious
accidents
.
"If it's a crime and anyone caught will go to jail, a lot more people will be afraid of risking it," said Wang Mingliang, a professor at the Fudan University.
``
If
it
's
a
crime
and
anyone
caught
will
go
to
jail
,
a
lot
more
people
will
be
afraid
of
risking
it
,
''
said
Wang
Mingliang
,
a
professor
at
the
Fudan
University
.
However, other people disagreed.
However
,
other
people
disagreed
.
In 2008, China's alcohol -related traffic accidents led to 18,371 deaths, 76,230 injuries, and a property loss of 250 million yuan ($36.7 million), according to official figures.
In
2008
,
China
's
alcohol
-related
traffic
accidents
led
to
18,371
deaths
,
76,230
injuries
,
and
a
property
loss
of
250
million
yuan
(
$
36.7
million
)
,
according
to
official
figures
.
Survey: Most Chinese think penalty for drunk driving too light  2009-08-18 13:33:53 GMT2009-08-18 21:33:53 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English  BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua)--Most Chinese people consider drunk driving impossible to stop in the country while the current law too light for drunk drivers, a survey has found.  According to the survey done by the China Youth Daily, more than 96% of the 1,792 respondents said people around them had driven after drinking, while more than 81% complained the current penalty was too light, the paper reported Tuesday. Now offenders face a three-to-six month suspension of their driving licenses and detention for up to 15 days in serious cases.  Drunk driving has attracted wide public attention in China after several serious accidents in recent months. On Aug. 4, a drunk driver in Hangzhou killed a 16-year-old girl. Two days later, another drunk driver in Shanghai killed a four-year-old boy and injured three others. Drunk driving is regarded as just traffic violation if no accidents result, according to the Chinese law. But some people have called for regarding it as a crime no matter whether it results in serious accidents. "If it's a crime and anyone caught will go to jail, a lot more people will be afraid of risking it," said Wang Mingliang, a professor at the Fudan University. However, other people disagreed.  In 2008, China's alcohol -related traffic accidents led to 18,371 deaths, 76,230 injuries, and a property loss of 250 million yuan ($36.7 million), according to official figures.