Bill to toughen penalty for drug, alcohol-related vehicular homicide

TOKYO — The lower house of the Diet has approved a bill to stiffen penalties for fatal accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill is expected to be passed by the upper house and be enacted into law during the current Diet session that ends on Dec 6. The revision to the Road Traffic Law follows a series of deadly traffic accidents. Among them was an incident in Tochigi in 2011 in which six children were killed by a crane truck, and another in Kyoto in 2012 in which eight people were killed by a minivan. In both cases, the drivers had concealed their epilepsy when applying for their driving licenses and had seizures at the wheel. Under the new bill, drivers face a maximum prison term of 15 years if they cause an accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or due to a medical condition such as epilepsy, Fuji TV reported Wednesday.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/bill-to-toughen-penalty-for-drug-alcohol-related-vehicular-homicide