Editor's note: A pilot guideline issued by the Supreme People's Court stipulates that drunken driving that doesn't cause serious harm should be exempt from conviction or criminal punishment, sparking a heated debate. Forum readers share their opinions.
ceciliazhang (China)
Regardless of the outcome, drunk drivers need to lose their license and have criminal penalties in place to discourage the practice. Driving drunk can kill and pose serious threats to people's lives. They should be held accountable for themselves, regardless of how much they drink.
Traffic policemen attend an event to mark National Traffic Safety Day in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
emanreus (expat in China)
In the UK, driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months' disqualification. For a second offence committed within 10 years of conviction, the minimum ban is three years. Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in three months' imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, a minimum two-year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to drive legally again. It is an offence to refuse to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis. The penalties for refusing are the same as those for actual drunk driving.
linda_sun (China)
Many drunken drivers do not result in accidents. Sober drivers cause twice as many fatalities but they do not carry the same penalties as drunk driving. If a serious accident occurs, then jail is appropriate, as it should be for all other traffic offenses. Otherwise, it should not be considered as a criminal offense.
peter_j (Malaysia)
I don't think it should be lessened. Instead I hope drunk drivers are banned from driving for the rest of their life and, in the meantime, should be locked up for a couple of years. At present, even though we have a strict traffic law, the traffic accidents are still ramping up.
Ratfink (Australia)
I'm in favour of a tiered system of drunk driving and penalties depending on how drunk the person is behind the wheel and how many times they've been caught. I'd like to see penalties starting at say 5,000 yuan and rising to over 100,000 yuan for a four-time offender who is twice the legal limit or more. If someone is seriously injured or killed then the penalty should include a massive punitive fine, payment of a large sum to the injured or deceased's family and automatic prison time for a good period of time plus lifetime ban from driving. Why am I so against drunk driving? I've lost a few friends who were killed or died as a result of drink driving but I also had my ex-fiancée killed by a drunk driver many years ago.
mikaelforsberg (Sweden)
Driving can be lethal as well as being a passenger in a car, but if the driver has drunk a beer or two, it does not mean that the driver is killing someone because of the beer. People should generally drive more carefully, but it is not achieved by attacking people's body chemistry, and most traffic accidents are caused by completely sophisticated drivers.
