No Parking or Stopping in 'School Zones'... Seoul City Focuses on Creating 'Safe School Routes'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is strongly promoting high-intensity safety measures to eradicate speeding and illegal parking, with the overarching principle of 'Children's Safety First in School Zones.'

On the 26th, Seoul announced that to encourage compliance with the 30 km/h speed limit in school zones, it will install an additional 340 speed enforcement cameras near elementary schools this year, in addition to the 80 currently in operation. As a result, the installation rate of speed enforcement cameras near elementary schools will significantly increase from 11.3% last year to 69.3% this year, with the city planning to achieve a 100% installation rate by the first half of next year at the earliest.

Seoul also pointed out the need to strongly improve illegal parking, which obscures short children and increases accident risks. Starting this year, any form of parking or stopping will be prohibited on main school routes where elementary schools or kindergartens have their main entrances, including 'Resident Priority Parking Zones.' Through this, the city aims to reduce not only child fatalities since the implementation of the 'Min-sik Act' but also approximately 25 serious injuries occurring annually to zero by 2022.

All 48 resident priority parking zones with 417 spaces located on main school routes with front and back gates of school zones will be removed by the end of this year. As of May, 202 spaces (48.4%) have been eliminated, and 90% will be reorganized by next month. Although roadside parking lots are generally not allowed on main school routes under the Road Traffic Act, many resident priority parking zones have been operated as roadside parking lots due to a shortage of parking in residential areas.

Fifty closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for 24-hour unmanned enforcement will be installed in habitual illegal parking areas or illegal roadside parking lots where parking is expected to recur after removal.

Additionally, in 20 narrow side roads within school zones where it is difficult to create sufficient sidewalks, the speed limit will be lowered to 20 km/h, and speed bumps will be intensively installed to transform the entire road into a space prioritizing children's commuting safety.

To enhance visibility in school zones, 86 sign block yellow carpets will be installed at various school crossing crosswalks, and 414 traffic signs at school zone entrances and exits will be completely replaced with LED signs.

Newly designated school zone projects will be expanded to include private academies starting this year. Since most academy areas are located along wide arterial roads and have not been designated as school zones, but child pedestrian accidents continue to occur, designs are underway to newly designate 92 locations focusing on academy areas such as Daechi-dong and Junggye-dong.

With the full-scale reopening of elementary schools starting on the 27th, Seoul will strengthen school-level cooperation systems centered on schools and parents, along with district offices and local police stations, to prevent accident blind spots in actual commuting routes. Furthermore, a special crackdown on illegal parking will be conducted targeting 34 locations where accidents occurred in the past three years and areas where roadside parking lots have been abolished. Seoul and district offices will operate a total of 63 teams with 248 city and district joint special enforcement personnel until June 12.

Mayor Park Won-soon of Seoul said, "To make school zones safe areas free from accidents, we will prioritize safety as the highest value and respond with zero tolerance to illegal parking, ensuring that no more children are injured or killed in school zones." He urged, "Please join us in creating safe school zones without accidents."

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