Gyeongnam Police Agency to Completely Crack Down on Year-End Drunk Driving

Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency will conduct intensive crackdowns on drunk driving in the province from December 1st this year until the end of January next year.

The provincial police agency stated that with the full lifting of social distancing measures, the number of drinking gatherings is expected to increase during the first year-end season, leading to a rise in drunk driving, and thus they will implement intensive crackdowns.

During the crackdown period, daily drunk driving checks will be conducted, and every Friday night, simultaneous crackdowns will take place in entertainment districts, restaurants, and highway entrances and exits.

Traffic and local police forces from all police stations in the province will be mobilized to the maximum extent, and crackdowns will be carried out jointly with the provincial police undercover patrol team.

According to the provincial police agency, fatal accidents caused by drunk driving decreased by 60% in 2021 compared to 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, and by 35.5% up to October this year.

The proportion of drunk driving traffic accidents during late-night hours from midnight to 6 a.m., which had been decreasing until last year, has turned to an increasing trend as drinking gatherings have become more frequent following the easing and lifting of social distancing.

Fatal drunk driving accidents during late-night hours have been shown to have a higher proportion since the second half of this year compared to 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19.

The provincial police agency plans to strengthen late-night crackdowns to prevent drunk driving behavior from returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.

During the crackdown process, non-contact breathalyzers will be used, and disinfection of equipment will be carried out frequently to focus on quarantine measures.

A representative of the provincial police agency said, “As this is the first year-end season following the full lifting of social distancing, awareness of drunk driving may become lax,” and added, “Drunk driving is a serious crime that destroys individuals, families, and society, so it must never be done.”