Editorial

15:50 JST, December 19, 2025

The current situation in which reckless driving causing death or injury results in only minor penalties can only be described as absurd. It is essential to reform the legal system so that malicious drivers are punished severely.

To prepare for a review of what constitutes the offense of “dangerous driving resulting in death or injury,” which was written into law to punish drivers who engage in dangerous driving, the Justice Ministry presented draft numerical standards for criminal offenses related to drunk driving and speeding to a subcommittee of the Legislative Council, an advisory body to the justice minister.

The draft standards state that, for accidents caused by drunk driving, the offense would apply to drivers whose alcohol concentration in their exhaled breath exceeds 0.5 milligrams per liter of air. The figure is equivalent........

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