Numerical Criteria Proposed for Dangerous Driving Definition

   Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)--An expert panel under Japan's Justice Ministry on Wednesday proposed setting certain numerical standards for recognizing the crime of dangerous driving resulting in death or injury.
   The proposal was included in a draft report released on the day by the panel, chaired by Hosei University professor Takeyoshi Imai.
   In the automobile driving punishment law, the influence of alcohol and drugs that makes it difficult to drive properly and high speed that makes it difficult to control are listed as conditions for recognizing the crime.
   However, there are no specific criteria now, and court judgments differ from case to case. In a past case, a court did not recognize the crime in an accident involving a car traveling at 146 kilometers per hour, well above the legal limit.
   Against this backdrop, the panel report calls for setting certain reference values for speed and alcohol concentration. It includes panel members' proposals to set the speed threshold at twice or 1.5 times the legal limit and the alcohol threshold at 0.5 milligrams or more per liter of breath.

(2024/11/13-19:51)

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