酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)

A legal term combining 酒酔(しゅよ)い (intoxication) and 運転(うんてん) (driving). In Japanese traffic law, this is the more serious category of alcohol-impaired driving, where the driver is visibly intoxicated and unable to drive normally. Japan has extremely strict drunk driving laws, with severe penalties including imprisonment.

Common collocations

• 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)で検挙(けんきょ)される: to be caught for drunk driving
• 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)の罰則(ばっそく): penalties for drunk driving
• 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)事故(じこ): drunk driving accident
• 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)を撲滅(ぼくめつ)する: to eradicate drunk driving

Similar words

• 酒気帯(しゅきお)び運転(うんてん): driving with alcohol detected — the less severe category where blood alcohol is above the legal limit but the driver is not visibly impaired
• 飲酒運転(いんしゅうんてん): drinking and driving — the general term covering both categories
• 危険運転(きけんうんてん): dangerous driving — a broader legal term for reckless driving