In Japan there is a law, which keeps in such a case these other persons sitting in the same car as the driver also partly responsible for such an accident. (except if the car is provided by a bus company or taxi company etc. and you pay for transportation as a customer)

They were with him and they knew, drunk driving is illegal. Still they were sitting in the car, expecting him/her to drive.

They have either to stop him, (they have the right to take the keys away in such a case) or if they cannot, they must refuse to sit down in the car and let him go alone.


I like this response in the comment section:

Actually it does not say he was driving. It says, "they hit a tree." Maybe she was driving. At least she didn't accuse him of 'date rape.'

Quote from yohan

In Japan there is a law, which keeps in such a case these other persons sitting in the same car as the driver also partly responsible for such an accident. (except if the car is provided by a bus company or taxi company etc. and you pay for transportation as a customer)

They were with him and they knew, drunk driving is illegal. Still they were sitting in the car, expecting him/her to drive.

They have either to stop him, (they have the right to take the keys away in such a case) or if they cannot, they must refuse to sit down in the car and let him go alone.

That's fucked up, that's like blaming a man for a woman's mistakes.

Honestly though, who can't control a car drunk? They almost drive themselves.