May 9th, 2010. Just another day on Beijing's busy roads. Until this happens.

33 year old Chen Weining was killed by the impact. So was his six year old daughter.

The black car was traveling at 120 kilometers per hour.

Chen Jia was the driver. He was drunk at the time.

"There's nothing I can do to repay the family. I'm just a criminal."

This is just one of many drunk driving accidents across the country.

A recent government report recorded over 40 thousand drunk driving cases nationwide in 2009.

Between 2006 and 2010, 3,500 people were killed and 9,000 injured due to drink driving in China.

But the government hopes it can reduce these figures through tough new laws.

"In the past drunk driving was considered a minor offence. The local police could deal with the problem and offenders were often detained for just 15 days. But now drunk driving is criminal. It wasn't before."

Under the old law drunk drivers risked losing their licenses for just 3 – 6 months. Now, simply being over the legal limit is classed as a criminal offence, even if no accident is caused.

"A criminal punishment recorded on your personal files can have a huge impact, for example when applying for university or a government job. If you're already a civil servant, you'll be fired."

The legal limit in China is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Roughly equivalent to one or two glasses of beer.

Those caught drunk driving will have their licenses revoked. And they'll have to wait at least five years before applying for a new one.

In the worst cases, drunk drivers will be banned for life.

"The number of cars in China is growing. More vehicles mean more traffic accidents. Also, Chinese people love to drink a little. The severity of accidents caused by drinking and driving has been noticed by the people and by the lawmakers."

In China drinking is deeply entwined in the culture. Getting drunk together is often seen as a true sign of friendship. Or, as the Chinese say, 'a thousand cups of wine are not too much when close friends meet.'

Before the new law was introduced in May 2011, many believed drunk driving was not a major offence.

And some think being able to drink a lot can earn respect.

But the new law is helping to change attitudes.

"I used to drink a little in the evenings, but not now. I'm afraid the alcohol could still be detected the next day. If was caught I could lose my job."

"I agree with new law because drinking and driving is not only harmful to yourself, it also puts others in danger. These days, if I drink I don't drive."

"Getting drunk is not only bad for your health, it can also damage friendships. It's a very bad habit. It's not good."

The new law was introduced on May 1, 2011 and is already seeing results. The first two weeks saw the number of drunk driving cases fall 35 percent compared with the year before.

One of the more notable cases was Chinese pop singer Gao Xiaosong, who has been jailed for six months, fined the equivalent of 600 dollars and banned from driving for 5 years after being caught drunk behind the wheel.

High profile cases like this are likely help persuade others, especially the younger generation, that drunk driving is unacceptable.

"I hope grown ups will not drink and drive, it's too dangerous."

China's roads are getting busier. The new drunk driving law is designed to make them a little less dangerous.

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