Overview
- The draft sets drunk-driving liability at 0.5 mg of alcohol per liter of breath or 1.0 mg per milliliter of blood, described as roughly the equivalent of two large bottles of beer.
- For excessive speed, the threshold is 60 km/h over the limit on roads where the limit exceeds 60 km/h and 50 km/h over on roads with limits of 60 km/h or below, making 160 km/h on a 100 km/h expressway and 110 km/h on a 60 km/h road chargeable.
- The plan would newly treat drifting that causes tires to slide or lift as dangerous driving.
- Officials narrowed earlier options to higher, stricter benchmarks, drawing cautious support from victims’ families who call it a step forward yet warn that high bars and prosecutorial practice could limit use, citing a 2023 Utsunomiya fatal crash that initially avoided the charge.
- The move aims to replace vague standards like difficulty in normal driving with clear metrics; the ministry notes speeds approaching the benchmark could qualify but suggests cases 10 km/h below may be difficult to apply, and the offense carries a maximum 20-year sentence versus seven years for negligent driving.