Society
Police target drunk driving amid soccer fever
By Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-30 17:42
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As beer-toasting fans revel in the World Cup binge, Chinese traffic police are busy keeping alcohol-roused game watchers from getting behind the wheel.
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday announced a nationwide campaign against drunk driving on its website, specifically targeting July 10, right before the tournament's?crescendo of?two final games.
The ministry's traffic controllers all over the country will reinforce its patrols around venues where football fans gather to watch the games, mostly at night from 10 into the wee hours.
According to statistics from the ministry, road traffic accidents in China claimed 67,759 lives in 2009, down 10.1 percent from the previous year. Although it didn't detail how many of those victims were actually killed by drunk driving, the ministry said alcohol-related casualties declined 13 percent last year.