Chinese drivers question new traffic rule (2)

Officials from the ministry said drivers will understandably need time to correct their driving habits accordingly.

The changes have evidently already had an effect on traffic violations. The ministry said Thursday that failure-to-stop cases dropped by 66 percent year on year during the first three days after the revision took effect.

The ministry said the decrease indicates that the revision has been effective in regulating driving behavior and preventing accidents.

Authorities have tightened traffic regulations amid the explosive growth of the country's auto market in recent years.

Drunk driving became a felony punishable by jail in May 2011, with the number of drunk driving cases dipping dramatically following the change.

About 62,000 people died from traffic accidents in 2011, according to the State Administration of Work Safety, dropping from nearly 89,000 the previous year.

"The intention of the Ministry of Public Security is to reduce traffic accidents. But public affairs need to be handled according to the rule of law and be based on public opinion," Sun said.

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