Dangerous driving cases plummet

The number of dangerous driving cases dropped significantly since the crime was written into Chinese Criminal Law in 2011, Beijing Haidian District People's Court said on Monday.

From January to June, the court has heard 27 cases of dangerous driving, a 393 percent decrease year-on-year, according to the latest statistic provided by the court.

In 2011, legislators lengthened the punishment for driving dangerously, such as speeding or drunken driving, from 15 days to up to six months in detention, in an effort to alert residents and avoid traffic tragedies, the court said.

But Ma Lin, judge of the court, said some of those jailed for dangerous driving committed the crime on purpose or had a momentary lapse in judgment due to alcohol consumption, and suggested that friends and restaurants promote sober driving.

The court joined the crime faculty under the People's Public Security University of China on Monday, aiming to combine judicial theory with practices.