Chinese police caught 6,094 people driving under the influence of alcohol from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Thursday in a nationwide crackdown on drink-driving, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website Thursday.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, 11,696 Chinese drivers had been caught driving after drinking since the ministry launched a two-month nationwide campaign against drink-driving on Aug. 15.

A "startling" 14 percent of such drivers's blood alcohol concentrations reached 80 mg per 100 ml when busted by the police, the statement said.

According to the ministry, if drink drivers are caught, their licenses will be suspended for three or six months and, in serious cases, the driver would be detained for 15 days.

If a drink driver is caught twice within one year, his or her license will be revoked for two to five years.

The campaign was launched to prevent serious traffic accidents ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October.

It is also the latest ministry move against drink-driving following increased media coverage of traffic fatalities and accidents in recent months.

On Aug. 4, a drunk driver in Hangzhou killed a 16-year-old girl. Two days later, another drunk driver in Shanghai killed a four-year-old boy and injured three others.

The ministry said it would continue to strictly monitor and punish drink-driving during and after the campaign.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2009)