Not really, same in Germany if you are generally drunk in traffic (except by foot or public transport, i.e. an active participant) the same sober laws apply. So the incentive is not to do that when drunk. Also believe me when you lose your driving license completely you will care if you need it, and even if you don’t, fines hurt, too.
Japan is even harsher as you can go to prison directly, and if you are in their court system once (that is after only a fine or simple suspension) due to customs and cultural norms you will be found guilty with a chance of about 99 % (the Japanese court system is notoriously bad).
Alternatives to escalating by using a car can bet walking or taking the metro, the latter is easily possible in Japan, for instance. When the trains don’t run there are plenty cheap manga cafes or capsule hotels.
Not really, same in Germany if you are generally drunk in traffic (except by foot or public transport, i.e. an active participant)
An active participant in operating a vehicle, I’m sure. I would disagree with the implicit characterization of walking on foot as being a non-active participant in traffic.
Alternatives to escalating by using a car can bet walking or taking the metro, the latter is easily possible in Japan, for instance. When the trains don’t run there are plenty cheap manga cafes or capsule hotels.
If you’re in Tokyo, maybe. I imagine this might be a bigger problem in rural areas, where the distances are greater and public transportation less available.
The distinction you make is fair. What I meant by active is as you describe “operating a vehicle”, pedestrians are active participants as well, but you arguably are more likely to cause harm when misusing vehicles than on foot.
I was generally speaking about cities where most of these fines/sentences happend. In rural areas it is harder in many countries, although bare extreme mountainous parts, Japan is generally OK here as well.
Though I believe in these parts you are not only less likely to cause harm when drunk driving + police is less likely to stop you as well.
Generally speaking, it is always possible to either plan well enough to be able not to operate a vehicle drunk, or to simply don’t drink if the former isn’t possible. Don’t you agree?
So the more comfortable way to lose a license is to drive a car instead?
If you punish everything you’ll just get people who stop caring.
Or people will stop driving because they have no license… Who cares if they care, then?
I just drive without one.
Not really, same in Germany if you are generally drunk in traffic (except by foot or public transport, i.e. an active participant) the same sober laws apply. So the incentive is not to do that when drunk. Also believe me when you lose your driving license completely you will care if you need it, and even if you don’t, fines hurt, too.
Japan is even harsher as you can go to prison directly, and if you are in their court system once (that is after only a fine or simple suspension) due to customs and cultural norms you will be found guilty with a chance of about 99 % (the Japanese court system is notoriously bad).
Alternatives to escalating by using a car can bet walking or taking the metro, the latter is easily possible in Japan, for instance. When the trains don’t run there are plenty cheap manga cafes or capsule hotels.
An active participant in operating a vehicle, I’m sure. I would disagree with the implicit characterization of walking on foot as being a non-active participant in traffic.
If you’re in Tokyo, maybe. I imagine this might be a bigger problem in rural areas, where the distances are greater and public transportation less available.
The distinction you make is fair. What I meant by active is as you describe “operating a vehicle”, pedestrians are active participants as well, but you arguably are more likely to cause harm when misusing vehicles than on foot.
I was generally speaking about cities where most of these fines/sentences happend. In rural areas it is harder in many countries, although bare extreme mountainous parts, Japan is generally OK here as well.
Though I believe in these parts you are not only less likely to cause harm when drunk driving + police is less likely to stop you as well.
Generally speaking, it is always possible to either plan well enough to be able not to operate a vehicle drunk, or to simply don’t drink if the former isn’t possible. Don’t you agree?
Ah, if Germans do it too it must be the right then. Never met a German who didn’t know the absolute best way of doing everything.
I gave Germany as an example, but this is the case for many countries. Japan, Germany, UK, some regions of Australia, etc.