The recent deaths of three young children in Fukuoka in a car accident caused by a drunk driver has highlighted Japanese society's misplaced tolerance toward driving under the influence of alcohol and the lack of awareness among drivers that it is illegal to drive after ingesting alcohol. Even worse, many people drink and drive believing that the chance of the police catching them is nil. It is time that Japanese society step up its efforts to eliminate drunk driving, including increasing the effectiveness of police action and creating campaigns that enhance public awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.

The Fukuoka accident occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on Aug. 25. A car driven by a 22-year-old employee of the Fukuoka municipal government rear-ended a sport utility vehicle carrying a family of five -- a husband and wife and their three children -- on a bridge in Fukuoka City. The impact caused the SUV to smash through a 1-meter-high guardrail and plunge 14 meters into Hakata Bay. Although the parents managed to rescue their 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter from the sunken car, both died later. Their 4-year-old son drowned inside the car.

In addition to arresting the driver, police apprehended two of his friends. One, a 22-year-old man, is suspected of taking several bottles of drinking water to the accident scene, after being called by the driver, to help the driver try to dilute the smell of alcohol on his breath. The other friend, a 32-year-old man, is suspected of asking the driver for a ride home before the accident even though he was aware that the driver had been drinking. The police investigation will unravel to what extent friends and acquaintances were aware of the driver's condition, and will hopefully serve as a warning to citizens who are lenient toward those who drink and drive.