Drunken driving cases down by 35%

Tougher laws and penalties help to deter drivers and lower accident rate

BEIJING - The number of people found driving while drunk fell sharply across the country during the past two weeks, following the amended Criminal Law taking effect on May 1, which makes possible much harsher punishments.

A total of 2,038 drunken drivers were rounded up between May 1 and 15 - an average of 136 each day. The number was down by 35 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the traffic management department of the Ministry of Public Security.