Core Tip: Drunk driving not only endangers the lives and property of others but also brings numerous hidden dangers to oneself. This is something everyone understands. So why, despite the nation's repeated severe penalties for drunk driving, do tragedies continue to occur? In fact, this is mostly due to people's overconfidence and侥幸心理 (the mentality of侥幸, or taking a chance).
Since the "Criminal Law Amendment (VIII) of the People's Republic of China" was officially implemented on May 1, 2011, making drunk driving a crime of dangerous driving that holds the driver criminally liable, eight full months have passed. In these eight months, on one hand, the number of drunk driving cases has decreased; on the other hand, some people still turn a deaf ear to the power of the criminal law and continue to drive after drinking, even while intoxicated.
Challenging the law, as well as the life safety of others and oneself, why is drunk driving so difficult to stop? The author believes that the reasons for drunk driving are varied, but they can be boiled down to three types of psychological motivation:
First, believing one has a high alcohol tolerance. "Half a jin doesn't make my face flush, a whole jin doesn't make my heart race, two jin won't make me fall down!" Drunk drivers have extraordinary "confidence," thinking that even after drinking, they can drive to their destination; and even if they are drunk, they can calmly handle unexpected situations. They have clearly forgotten the timeless truth that alcohol can numb and dull the nervous system. By the time an accident happens, it's too late to regret it.
Second, believing one is experienced and has superb driving skills. Data from Shandong Province shows that: drivers with less than one year of driving experience rarely drink and drive, while a large number of drunk driving incidents occur among drivers with 5 to 20 years of experience. Little do they know that once alcohol enters the body, it doesn't care how many years of driving experience you have. Accidents, however, are more likely to occur precisely because drivers with more experience and high self-regard pay less attention and have a weaker sense of prevention.
Third, the mentality of taking a chance. Some drivers who drink and drive always think, "It won't be so lucky as to run into a traffic police officer," or before a holiday, they think, "Traffic police officers also get holidays," believing that related inspections will be reduced during the holiday. So they get behind the wheel while under the influence. This mentality actually ignores a most basic premise: checking for drunk driving, fining, or even pursuing criminal liability are not the ultimate goals. The purpose of prohibiting drunk driving is to protect the life safety of others and the driver themselves, and to maintain traffic and social order. When there are traffic police officers checking, drivers should not drink and drive. Even without police checks, not drinking and driving should be the most basic professional ethics and a proactive awareness of respecting life.