Tough stance proposed against driving, drugs

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Experts are debating whether driving after drug use should be considered a criminal offense after a bus driver who used drugs and drove caused a fatal traffic accident in Jiangsu province on April 22 that killed 14 people and injured 20 others.

"We are working with the anti-drug department to conduct further research on the potential risks caused by driving after drug use, and preparing to promote the legislation," said a statement released by the Ministry of Public Security.

It's a move many experts have been calling for.

"Severe punishment would be a strong deterrent to drug-addicted drivers, and have an instant effect in solving the problem," said Hong Daode, a professor from China University of Political Science and Law.

He said that according to a British study, the reaction time of drunken drivers is 12 percent slower under the influence of alcohol compared with sober ones. However, a driver under the influence of drugs is nearly two times slower than a drunken driver, and 21 percent slower than a sober driver.

"So drug-addicted drivers have poor capability in reacting to different circumstances and to control themselves, which will bring great harm to other people and society," he said.

Drunk driving is a criminal offense in China, and drunken drivers face sentences of between one and six months as well as fines.

Dai Peng, deputy director of the criminal investigation department under Chinese People's Public Security University, echoed Hong, saying it is necessary for drug-addicted drivers to beheld criminally accountable and face penalties.

"Recently, fatal traffic accidents have frequently occurred due to improper driving, especially bus and truck drivers who drive after using drugs, which has caused widespread concern and the public is strongly calling to treat it as a crime," he said.

Meanwhile, he put forward some practical challenges the police face when cracking down on people who drive after drug use.

"Drug-addicted drivers look the same as normal ones, and the police don't have convenient devices to check them," Dai said.

But there are still other commentators who oppose the behavior being included in the Criminal Law, saying it is an abuse of the law and won't have any effect at all.

"People cannot depend too much on the Criminal Law, because serious punishments sometimes aren't the best choice," said Yi Shenghua, a Beijing lawyer from Ying Ke Law Firm.

China has enough regulations about traffic and driving for legal departments to enforce and punish wrongdoers, Yi said.

What is urgent is to enforce current regulations effectively, he added.

Li Guifang, deputy director of criminal defense department under the All China Lawyers' Association, said: "Administrative punishment is enough for the behavior of driving after drug use if the current regulations are implemented well, such as revoking the drivers' licenses."

"The fundamental issue in solving the problem is to crack down on the drug trade, strengthen education among the public, and improve compulsory treatment and rehabilitation work for drug addicts," he said.

Questions:

1. How much slower is the reaction time of drunken drivers?

2. What are one of the challenges police face when cracking down on people who drive after drug use?

3. What does Li Guifang say the solution is?

Answers:

1. 12 percent slower.

2. The police don’t have convenient devices to check them.

3. Crack down on the drug trade, strengthen education among the public, and improve compulsory treatment and rehabilitation work for drug addicts.

About the broadcaster:

Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.