Drunk Driver Uses ADAS, Causes Crash; Sentenced to 3 Months’ Detention and ¥6,000 Fine in Linxiang, Hunan

Recently, the Linxiang City People's Court in Hunan Province heard a traffic accident case involving the use of an intelligent driver-assistance system by a driver under the influence of alcohol. The driver, surnamed Zhou, activated his vehicle’s intelligent driver-assistance system after drinking and fell asleep while driving, causing his car to rear-end a three-wheeled motorcycle and injuring two people. Tests revealed Zhou’s blood alcohol concentration was 240.99 milligrams per 100 milliliters, constituting drunk driving. During the incident, the intelligent driving system failed to promptly detect the three-wheeled motorcycle ahead. The motorcycle rider had also consumed alcohol but did not reach the legal threshold for dangerous driving. Traffic police determined that Zhou bore primary responsibility for the accident, while the motorcycle rider was assigned secondary responsibility. Citing relevant provisions of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, the court convicted Zhou of dangerous driving and sentenced him to three months of criminal detention, along with a fine of RMB 6,000.