Despite the COVID-19 Crisis, No Complacency on 'Children's Traffic Accidents'... Focus on Lower Grade Accidents

62% of Child Casualties Are Lower Grades
Concerns Over Traffic Safety Education Gap Due to Online School Opening
"Need for Attention to Proper Traffic Habits at Home"

Children Protection Zone.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Amid the unprecedented 'online school opening' due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis, a gap has emerged in children's traffic safety education. Although children are refraining from going out due to 'social distancing,' vigilance is essential.

According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 13th, a total of 8,174 elementary school student pedestrian accident casualties occurred over the past three years (2016?2018). Among them, 62.6% were lower-grade elementary students in grades 1 to 3. The grade with the highest number of casualties was 1st grade, with 1,865 cases (22.8%). This is analyzed to be because lower-grade students have relatively less ability to respond to traffic accidents and have less developed safety habits.

Additionally, children's traffic accidents within school zones were concentrated in April and May. The average monthly number of accidents was highest in May with 164 cases, followed by April with 153 cases.

This year, although school openings were delayed and outdoor activities reduced due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, it is not a situation to be complacent about. On the contrary, traffic safety education that used to be conducted at schools is likely to be neglected due to online school openings. Therefore, the Authority explains that meticulous education at home is necessary.

Source: Provided by the Korea Road Traffic Authority

The 'Min-sik Act,' which strengthens penalties for children's traffic accidents occurring within school zones, is also cited as a reason why children's traffic safety education is necessary. The Min-sik Act focuses on strengthening driver penalties and installing safety facilities within school zones, but accidents can still occur due to children's sudden unpredictable behavior. Since the purpose of the Min-sik Act is to reduce children's traffic accidents, proper traffic safety education for children must be conducted to realistically expect a reduction in accidents.

Traffic safety education at home can be facilitated by using the 'Korea Road Traffic Authority e-Learning Center.' The e-Learning Center provides educational content on various topics such as ▲children's traffic safety ▲bicycle safety ▲child pedestrians ▲dangers of jaywalking ▲how to use crosswalks.

Yoon Jong-gi, Chairman of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, emphasized, “For lower-grade elementary students, school life is the most important period to form traffic safety habits,” adding, “Since direct education at school is difficult, attention is needed at home to help children develop proper traffic habits.”

He continued, “Children have a strong tendency to imitate and may follow others' traffic disorderly behaviors such as jaywalking, so guardians must have safety awareness and set an example in traffic order,” advising, “It is necessary to repeatedly educate children on the importance of traffic safety to raise their awareness.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.