(CFP)

A police officer tests a driver with an alcohol breathalyzer in Haikou, Hainan Province, on August 17.

Chinese police had caught a total of 9,040 people driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) as of August 19, six days after a nationwide anti-drunk driving campaign was launched on August 14.

DUI is a major killer in China. Nearly 20,000 people were reportedly killed nationwide in traffic accidents involving drunk driving in 2008. In the first half of this year alone, Beijing saw 97 deaths attributable to DUI.

The Ministry of Public Security said that all confirmed drunk drivers would face severe penalties during and after the two-month campaign.