## (2) Approach to correct drinking behavior at various opportunities

In the Osaka and Tochigi Prefecture,

according to the government’s decisions on the measures against habitual drunk drivers, pamphlets containing information on the effects of alcohol on the body and mind and the places where consultation on alcoholism is provided were distributed in training centers for those who have been penalized. Moreover, the National Police Agency has sent a list of specialized counseling organizations to police stations in every prefecture and is promoting approaches for correcting drinking behavior at various

opportunities such as during various safety and street guidance movements, at the time of giving guidance on the street, and during the courses for persons being penalized etc.

## (3) Enhancement of the training of a person who have been penalized and early identification of habitual drunk drivers

The National Police Agency gave directions the police in all prefectures to set up a class for drunk drivers in the course for those who have been penalized. In 2007, a course about drinking was organized in police agencies in all prefectures. In the course, a lecture and an important training session related to the hazards of drunk driving was conducted, in which they had to simulate drunk driving experience by wearing “drunk goggles” (which gives the feeling of drunk driving) and they received intensive education about the dangers of drunk driving through lectures by the family members of victims of drunk driving and by the members of Danshu-kai (organization to help stop drinking).

## (4) Enhancement of the treatment of inmates for traffic offenses related to drunk driving and for probationers and parolees

The Ministry of Justice enhanced traffic safety guidance for inmates by listening to external expertise on the effective treatments for alcohol dependence to prevent recidivism of drunk driving. They carried out an investigation for the creation of guidance material related to drunken driving prevention for probationers and parolees.

The Ministry of Justice consider the new treatment program for inmates who have alcohol dependence and the enhancement of traffic safety guidance by expanding the group work of private self-help groups dealing with alcoholic problems. In fiscal year 2008, guidance material for preventing drunk driving was prepared and the guidance was enhanced for probationers and parolees.

## (5) Approach related to the businesses for correcting the drinking behavior

In Fukuoka city, following the accident of August 2006 due to drunk driving by a civil servant, one year later, another accident was caused by a civil servant. Hence, a “Fukuoka City Compliance Improvement Investigation Commission” was established in which external expertise was involved. This commission investigated the reasons and measures for misconduct from the viewpoint of work place climate, personnel affairs and organization management, and collected the information for the report in April 2008.

The report revealed that there were employees in the age group of 40 who had drinking habit problems and most of them had drunk driving history. In addition to the existing educational activities at various work places for drunk driving eradication, several activities were conducted with cooperation from medical institutions. These included guidance for acquisition of proper information about alcohol and support for changing the behavior for reasonable alcohol intake (HAPPY program), health guidance by occupational safety and health staff such as reasonable alcohol intake and encouragement to persons at high-risk for alcohol problems to receive a medical checkup. It was provided as a health project that included prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.

As a measure against drunk driving, with cooperation from Industrial health field, the activity in Fukuoka city is considered to be revolutionary since it deals with a personal problem of each individual, a drinking habit. Implementation of this activity in other local governments and enterprises is expected.

## (6) Approach for automobile transportation operators

In the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, guidance was given about actual implementation of anti-drunk-driving manuals provided by operators organization. Guidance regarding popularization and proper usage of alcohol checkers was also given to automobile transportation operators.

## (7) Investigation of utilization strategy of alcohol ignition interlock device

In the Cabinet Office, from fiscal year 2008, an anti-drunk driving survey for habitual drunk drivers along with the study of the utilization strategy of the alcohol ignition interlock device will be conducted with the cooperation of the Kurihama Alcoholism Center.

## (8) Implementation of various investigations

From fiscal year 2008, the National Police Agency is to conduct investigation and research on the actual situation of habitual drunk drivers and the necessary safety measures. Moreover, in the Cabinet Office, investigation is to be conducted about the role of auto insurance (such as the role of insurance payment in case of drunk driving) that contributes to the eradication of drunk driving. This has been done simultaneously with the survey mentioned in above (7).

Source: Japan Automobile Research Institute

## $ ^{*} $ Alcohol ignition interlock device

A device that assesses state of sobriety or drunkenness of the driver and, if drunk, prevents the engine from starting.