A kind of "Get out of jail free card" for drunk drivers, which
covers losses caused by them while intoxicated behind the wheel,
has been met with a lukewarm response in China.??
But at least one police officer believes the warranty is
dangerous as it could increase the number of drunk drivers on the
nation's roads.
The insurance policy, which was launched by the Shanghai-based
Tian'an Insurance Co earlier this month, covers the damages caused
by a drunk driver to the tune of 250,000 yuan (US$30,000).
Tian'an Insurance is the only group in China offering the cover
-- perhaps because of the tepid response it has received from the
market.
Only about 300 people across the country have bought the new
insurance policy so far, business insiders said Thursday.
Beijing police officer Liu Jingyu said the new policy may help a
drunk driver elude their responsibilities arising from a traffic
accident, which could lead to an increase in people driving while
inebriated.
The number of traffic accidents on Beijing's roads has been on
rise. In the first seven months of the year, 792 people died,
according to statistics from the Beijing Traffic Management
Bureau.
Alarmingly, Liu said the number of drunk driving-related
accidents is already on the rise.
Nearly 70 percent of 1,426 respondents to a Internet survey said
they objected to the policy. However, the China Insurance
Regulatory Commission says the new cover aims to help protect the
victims of traffic accidents.
The liability insurance policy is aimed at covering their losses
and it does not mean drunk drivers will elude their
responsibilities, a commission statement said.
In many other countries, such insurance is compulsory so all
drivers can cover the compensation claims of victims in traffic
accidents, business insiders said.
China should introduce the policy across the board to better
protect the rights of all citizens, they argue.
(China Daily August 22, 2003)