From Morning Hangovers to Late-Night Entertainment Districts
Comprehensive Enforcement at Least Three Times a Week Begins
As the year-end and New Year holidays approach, the risk of drunk driving increases, prompting the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police to launch a comprehensive crackdown. The goal is to correct any complacency that may arise amid the festive social atmosphere and to proactively prevent drunk driving accidents.
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency (Commissioner Oh Bumyeong) announced that it will conduct intensive, high-intensity crackdowns around the clock during the year-end and New Year period to eradicate drunk and drug-impaired driving.
This crackdown is a measure to raise public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and to proactively manage periods when accident risks are concentrated. In addition to the existing late-night enforcement, police plan to expand their efforts to include morning hours, when so-called "hangover driving" cases have been increasing, in order to thoroughly address vulnerabilities by time of day.
The special crackdown will focus on areas with a high risk of drunk driving accidents, such as entertainment and restaurant districts, busy downtown areas, highway tollgates and rest areas, as well as school zones and nearby neighborhoods, taking into account the characteristics of each region. In addition to a nationwide crackdown every Friday, multidimensional enforcement will be conducted at least three times a week, both day and night.
An official from the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency warned, "Drunk driving is not just a simple traffic violation-it is a serious crime that can destroy not only an individual's life but also the future of an entire family. Even a single glass of soju can result in a positive test, and if you drink a whole bottle, you can be caught for drunk driving the next morning."
The official added, "If you have been drinking, please make sure to use a designated driver or public transportation and observe basic traffic rules. Eradicating drunk driving cannot be achieved through crackdowns alone; it requires responsible participation from every resident of the province."
The year-end and New Year period is a "dangerous time" repeatedly highlighted by accident statistics. The significance of the North Gyeongsang police's current crackdown lies in its focus on prevention rather than detection. Since a single decision can mean the difference between life and death, there is no longer any room for social tolerance of drunk driving.
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