Severity of drunken driving is in the blood

The controversy about the severity of drunken driving seems to have shifted attention away from what the lawmakers intended.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while intoxicated have long been considered a threat to life and property, especially around major traditional festivals when the number of such incidents soars.

The total number of people charged with driving under the influence by traffic police was 630,000 nationwide in 2010 and more than 80,000 were charged with driving while intoxicated.