China Daily:

Since drunk driving was criminalized in 2011, the public security organs have continued to strictly rectify driving under the influence (DUI), which has led to a good atmosphere in the whole society that "If you are to drive, do not drink; if you drink, don't drive." How would you comment on the results achieved since drunk driving was criminalized? Thank you.

Sun Maoli:

This is an issue of great concern to the whole society. The criminal penalty for drunk driving is a successful example of China's preventive criminal legislation. "If you are to drive, do not drink; if you drink, don't drive" has also become one of our public security organs' most successful examples of law enforcement and law popularization. Regarding the specific situation, I would ask Mr. Li Jiangping, head of the Traffic Management Bureau, to answer your question.

Li Jiangping:

Ok, I'll take this question. Since drunk driving was criminalized in 2011, the public security organs across the country have maintained a strict rectification momentum against DUI. We worked closely with procuratorates and courts in this regard and achieved unification of political, legal and social effects on rectifications against DUI. Judging from the practical results of the past 11 years, the rectification against drunk driving is a successful practice of making full use of the rule-of-law thinking and the rule-of-law approach to solve the problems in traffic safety management and ensure traffic safety.

First, the incidence of DUI has dropped significantly. For example, the proportion of drunk driving found in every 100 vehicles inspected during law enforcement has decreased by more than 70% compared with that before the drunk driving criminalization. For another example, from the choice of the way people travel after drinking, most people can consciously choose chauffeur driving, and the average annual number of orders for chauffeur driving after drinking has reached 200 million.

Second, the number of casualties caused by DUI has been greatly reduced. Since China criminalized drunk driving in 2011, the number of motor vehicles in the country has risen by 89% and drivers by 123%, but the road safety situation nationwide has generally been stable for the past 11 years. Tens of thousands of alcohol-related traffic accidents have been reduced, preventing tens of thousands of families from breaking up or returning to poverty, which fully demonstrates the original aspiration of putting lives first behind China's criminalizing drunk driving.

Third, not DUI has become a consensus among society. It has become a conscious behavior of more and more people, as well as a rule of civility and a regulation universally identified and supported by society. Judging from public opinion surveys, people fully recognize the effectiveness of enforcing the law, and support continuous severe crackdowns on DUI.

Fourth, criminalizing drunk driving has been hailed as a model of the rule of law in China. In cleaning up DUI, we have been upholding the principle that everyone is equal before the law, and that the law is the only standard. "Managing other issues related to people's lives as dealing with drunk driving" has become a model of governance, setting a good example for promoting the development of the country under the rule of law, as well as law-based government and society.

Fifth, cleaning up DUI has effectively improved Party conduct and integrity. Strictly dealing with cases of DUI involving Party and public officials has become an important part of the current clean government building, effectively raising Party and public officials' awareness of discipline and helping them hold the discipline in awe and respect, and not cross the line. All these efforts have played a positive role in addressing the practice of formalities for formalities' sake, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance.

Good law and good governance will achieve final success. DUI has repetitive, stubborn and long-term features, so any relaxation will lead to a rebound in cases. I would like to take this opportunity to call on people from all walks of life to join hands and remind relatives and friends to resolutely resist the illegal and criminal offence of DUI, and together create a safe and civilized road traffic environment. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

There are still two journalists with their hands raised. We'll take those two final questions.

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