It's been 28 days and a month since a drunk driving truck crashed into a line of elementary school students in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, killing and injuring five children.

In Chiba prefecture, there are many drivers arrested for drunk driving even after the accident, and the police are strengthening the crackdown.

A month ago, on the 28th of last month, a truck crashed into a line of elementary school students in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, killing and injuring five children. He has been accused of causing dangerous driving fatal injuries.



Drunk driving has continued in Chiba prefecture even after this accident, and according to police, at least 26 people have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.



In response to the accident, the Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters summarized the situation of drunk driving in the prefecture in the first half of the year, and the number of cases of drunk driving cleared was 586, which was 405 in the first half of the year before the spread of the new corona infection. It turned out that it increased by more than 40% compared to the comparison.



On the other hand, as a result of analyzing 50 accidents resulting in injury or death during drunk driving, the number of places where alcohol was drunk was


19 (38% of the total) at restaurants and 18 (36%) at home. I also found that it was higher than usual.



The police have decided to strengthen the crackdown on drunk driving, such as increasing the number of inspections.

Expert "Corona sickness also affects drinking behavior"

Professor Ryota Kosai of Ehime University, who is familiar with the problem of drunk driving, said, "In the midst of various self-restraint due to corona sickness, there are cases where people withdraw to their homes and drink more than usual. I think that anxiety, disasters, and such things may affect people's drinking behavior. "



On top of that, "Children and innocent people should never be the victims of drunk driving. The treatment of alcoholism behind drunk driving and the car engine will not start if alcohol is contained in the exhaled breath. It is important to take concrete steps such as introducing equipment. "

A man arrested for a drunk driving accident due to Corona

A 29-year-old man in Tokyo who had an accident due to drunk driving in Corona was interviewed by NHK.



A man was arrested in August last year for drunk driving in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, when he crashed into the entrance of an apartment with his car.



On this day, a man was invited by a colleague to go to an izakaya, and when he drank about 5 glasses of lemon sour between about 2 am and 1 hour, he lost his memory, and when he noticed, he had an accident.



It was said that he had eaten out for the first time in a long time due to the corona sickness, and he recalls that he drank more alcohol than usual.



The man said, "At that time, I was only going back and forth between work and home, so when I drank alcohol, I felt very open. I had drunk driving in the past, but I never got caught and drove. I think there was a feeling that it would be okay, "he said.



The man was convicted of a suspended sentence in the accident, his driver's license was revoked, and he gave up his future job related to cars, such as the transportation industry.



The man said, "I didn't happen to kill anyone, but I regret that it was really shallow. I'll never forget the accident for a day."