16-year-old boy dies after being dragged in hit-and-run incident in Osaka

Sunday 16th November, 04:35 PM JST

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LFRAgain at 06:32 AM JST - 17th November

I don't think that second-guessing what might have happened if the law was different is terribly productive.

I disagree. I think it's important to look at anything that may have contributed to the driver's impulse to run rather than stop and help the victim. Japan's draconian zero-tolerance approach to DUI, while basically understandable from a legal and ethical standpoint, doesn't leave a lot of room for the human element, namely that people are going to break the law.

A DUI conviction in Japan is essentially the same as saying goodbye to your entire life - jobs, friends, standing in the community - and that's if you don't injure or kill someone. Do the latter, and you not only lose any sembleance of your old life, buy you effectively hand it over to those harmed by your stupidity.
RakishGadfly at 06:39 AM JST - 17th November

LFR:

Maybe I misunderstand your post, but are you saying that people convicted of DUI should be getting some sympathy or understanding of why they were DUI?
outofmydepth at 07:00 AM JST - 17th November

DUIs should get the full force of the law. maybe they should be dragged for kilometers themselves. in this day and age and what we know about alcohol it is nothing less than murder. LFR - i am astounded by your post.
Stonecoldsoba at 07:51 AM JST - 17th November

LFR:

Japan's draconian zero-tolerance approach to DUI,

Not only that but also that the driver will be more or less automatically held responsible, regardless of how much the other party contributed to causing the accident, and regardless of whether the driver was DUI or not.
thepro at 08:37 AM JST - 17th November

Again? Disgusting. And yes, I too think Japanese law regarding drink driving and accidents plays a role in all of these cases, and should be reviewed.
zaichik at 08:38 AM JST - 17th November

NZ has a non-zero-tolerance policy on DUI and also doesn't have such good transport provision as Japan does, and yet there is still a high level of drink-driving, even with regular police checkpoints (maybe they should be irregular?!) So I don't think that increasing the threshold in Japan would reduce the number of DUI offences or accidents.
Osakadaz at 11:02 AM JST - 17th November

DUI policing in Japan is a joke.The motorists know exactly when police will NOT be patrolling the roads (anywhere between midnight and 7 am is a good guess) AND they advertise their crack-downs on TV before they even begin them.In my country the traffic police are most active in the hours when people can be expected to have left pubs and clubs,and they hide their radars behind trees and under bridges in wait. Some things are so elementary and yet so badly done here, and this poor young fella has lost his life in the most heinous and tragic way possible.
nigelboy at 11:03 AM JST - 17th November

If you look at the stats from 11 years ago and compared to last year, the # of alcohol related accidents and deaths have decreased substantially.

In 1997, the number of alcohol related accidents and deaths are 21,289 and 1,240 fatalities. In 2007, the number decreased to 7,558 accidents and 430 fatalities, almost 1/3 the number of 1997.

http://www.npa.go.jp/toukei/koutuu48/H19.All.pdf

What changed? In September of 2006, Cabinet Office Director for Policies on Cohesive Society enacted a stricter guideline and called for more puglic awareness among the governments and police for DUI.

http://www8.cao.go.jp/koutu/taisaku/inshu/inshu_01.html

The above followed the amendement of the traffic laws (revised in Sept. 2007)

http://www.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0802/oshirase/kouhou/pikapojyouhouban/07-12gatugou/01.html

Results. In 2005, alcohol related accidents and fatalities totaled 13,875 and 707 respectively. In 2007, as mentioned above, 7558 and 430, respectively.

Another question that was addressed is does stricter laws result in increased hit & run cases.

The peak was in 2004 where there were 28,364 cases of hit & run resulting in 292 fatalities. In 2007, the number was 24,727 cases, and 193 fatalities.

http://www.npa.go.jp/toukei/keiji36/PDF/H19_21.pdf
IchyaParadise at 12:14 PM JST - 17th November

nigelboy- Thankyou for the post. Wanted to look at some of the stats.

RIP guy.
elbudamexicano at 01:53 PM JST - 17th November

As I have said before and say again, Osaka is a horrible place! This stupid drunken idiot killing a poor 16 year old boy is just another fine example of the idiots who inhabit Osaka. I hope this scum bag does the right thing and hangs himself because he is just waisting our time and tax money. May this poor 16 year rest in peace.
thundercat at 03:14 PM JST - 17th November

Nigelboy, thanks for the info!

While I agree with the sentiment of some of the posts on this thread I don't think that lessening the punishment for drunk drivers who hit and kill pedestrians would reduce the number of hit and runs, for the most part. I say for the most part because I believe that the majority of drunk drivers are already not using common sense, while some are honestly good people who have made a mistake (although I think this is very rare as most drunk drivers are repeat offenders). These drivers are already engaging in an illegal activity fully cognizant of the fact that a traffic accident while intoxicated will lead to very harsh penalties. I honestly feel that most of these drunk drivers are already proving their selfish and callous disregard for the safety and wellbeing of others that they would flee the scene regardless of the consequences.

What I think really needs to change is the way that the police approach this kind of crime. They need to be much more proactive in their efforts by setting up random spot checks in entertainment districts. As Nigelboy's post points out, there has been a considerable reduction in the number of drunk driving fatalities... I guess expecting zero deaths is asking the impossible, but it would be nice, wouldn't it?
Nessie at 04:37 PM JST - 17th November

Nigelboy, you'd want to correct for less driving because of high gas prices and changes in the demographic structure from aging. But thanks for the stats.
LFRAgain at 05:33 PM JST - 17th November

some sympathy or understanding of why they were DUI?

Not at all. I'm saying that the laws and prevention campaigns need to be re-addressed.
LFRAgain at 05:36 PM JST - 17th November

The motorists know exactly when police will NOT be patrolling the roads (anywhere between midnight and 7 am is a good guess)

That's not entirely true. I once got stopped at a sobriety checkpoint at 2:00AM. The officer who checked me got a nostril full of Gusto Burger, which probably wasn't too pleasant, but they were out there in force.
a11jc at 03:42 PM JST - 18th November

I can't believe and shocked about the accident happen again in Osaka. It's so terrible!! I watch the news on TV. The 16-years -old boy got his first salary just the before day. And he gave his first salary 2000yen to his grand father and he wants to buy game machine to play it with his friends. I don't know why such a kind boy was killed. The boy couldn't his dream come true but the criminal have a future.
In those days, there are a lot of accidents happen by drunk drivers. Many of them afraid of caught by drunken driving. So they did hit-and-run. But in the end, it causes more a heavy crime. The government has to consider about law of drunken driving and hit-and-run.