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National News

Maybe I Am Not Gonna Get Caught

작성자HANBAT HERALD  조회수728 등록일2021-07-29

Maybe I Am Not Gonna Get Caught

 By Jo Tae-yeon Reporter, Senior of economics

The “Yoon Chang-ho Law” began on October 12, 2018. The main contents of the law are “Strengthening Punishment” and “Strengthening Standards” for drunk driving. In the early morning of September 25th, 22 year old Yoon Chang-ho was on military vacation and was waiting for a signal at a crosswalk. He was hit by a vehicle driven by a drunken driver. Mr. Yoon flew 15 meters in a collision with the vehicle and hit his head on a concrete floor next to a wall. Since then, he has been brain dead. The driver’s blood alcohol content at the time was 0.134 percent, which was the same as the level of revocation of his driver’s license. Yoon’s friend uploaded “The Blue House National Petition”, stating that drunk driving was the same as murder, and that the punishment laws should be enacted. After the accident, Yoon’s friend said, the Yoon Chang-ho Law should be enacted in order to reduce the number of victims of drunk driving accidents, and to guarantee the security of people. In response, the president said, “We need to end the culture of drunk driving,” raising the level of punishment for drunk driving and preparing measures to prevent reoccurrence. The contents of the Yoon Chang-ho law are as follows.

 

Before the Amendment

After the Amendment

Strengthening Punishment

Less than 10 years in prison or a fine of more than 5 million won and less than 30 million won

 

A prison term of more than 1 year and less than 15 years or a fine of more than 10 million won and less than 30 million won

 In the event of an accident causing death, a time of more than 1 year in penal servitude 

More than 3 years in prison or life-time imprisonment

Strengthening Standards

 

 

-

2-5 years in prison or a fine of 10-20 million won if you are caught drunk driving more than twice

Criteria for suspension of license

 

Blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent or higher



Blood alcohol concentration of 0.03 percent or higher

 

Revoke license if you are caught drunk driving 3 times

Revoke license if you are caught drunk driving 2 times

The “Yoon Chang-ho Lawwas amended and the drunk driving law was strengthened. However, the number of drunk driving tests carried out per hour exceeded 2,000 a month in 2020. More than 2,000 people a month drink alcohol from 12a.m. to 1a.m and drive on the road. Why do people drive even though they drink alcohol? The SBS Date Journalism team asked those caught drunk driving,

“Why did you drink and drive?”


He had a blood alcohol content of 0.713 percent and was put on trial after crashing into a taxi. He had also been involved in a hit and run accident, unlicensed drunk driving, and had been punished for unlicensed drunk driving more than five times in the past. Like TALK, he had complacent thoughts that he would not get caught.

The Road Traffic Authority surveyed 219 people caught drunk driving. Asked if they had experience driving under the influence of alcohol over the past three years, 49.8 percent of 109 respondents said yes. The average number of drunk driving experiences for those who have drunk driven is 6.5 times. So why did they drink and drive?

1

They think they are sober

2

They think there are will not have to do random breath tests

3

They think it is difficult to use public transportation and a designated driver

What they have in common is that they do not sense that drinking and driving is a problem, and do not expect to get caught. It is not because they don’t have the concept of not driving when they are drunk, but they think, “I can drive even if I drink alcohol,” and “I won’t get caught.” Even now, the Korean National Police Agency, Road Traffic Authority, and the Media are trying to eradicate drunk driving. However, there are complacent thoughts of people who think “I will not get caught,” and “I will probably be fine.”  People do drink and drive because,  after drinking, their judgment is blurred. How can this problem be solved? You should recognize that drunk driving is illegal and avoid driving when drinking, or use a different kind of transportation. After a drunken accident, regret is useless.