Average of 10 Traffic Accident Deaths Per Day During Vacation Season... "Safety Rules Must Be Followed"

Road Traffic Authority Analyzes Last 3 Years
Average 613 Traffic Accidents Daily
Be Especially Careful of Drowsy and Rainy Road Driving

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Over the past three years, the average number of traffic accidents occurring daily during the concentrated summer vacation period was 613, with an average of 10 fatalities per day.

The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced these findings on the 23rd and urged safe driving during the holiday season.

According to the Authority, between July 16 and August 31, the concentrated summer vacation period from 2017 to 2019, traffic accidents averaged about 28,800 annually, or approximately 613 per day. The daily average number of deaths was 10, and injuries numbered 926. Compared to the daily averages outside the summer vacation period, there were about 8 more accidents and 27 more injuries per day.

Causes of traffic accidents during the holiday season include carelessness due to fatigue and drowsiness, and the dangers of wet roads caused by heavy summer rains. Long hours of driving easily lead to driver fatigue, which increases the risk of accidents due to decreased concentration and drowsiness. Taking sufficient rest before driving and following the rule of "if sleepy, take a break" can help prevent accidents.

Extra caution is also required when driving on expressways in rainy conditions. Over the past three years, the fatality rate of expressway accidents on wet roads was 8.9%, more than four times the average fatality rate of 2.2% for all wet road traffic accidents.

When driving on wet roads, reduce speed by 20% from the maximum speed and maintain a safety distance greater than usual. In cases of heavy rain or fog where visibility is less than 100 meters, reduce speed by 50% from the maximum speed.

Additionally, to prepare for vehicle fire accidents that may occur due to the hot summer weather, it is advisable to keep a fire extinguisher in the vehicle and avoid leaving flammable materials or machinery inside the vehicle.

Shin Seung-chul, Head of Safety at the Authority, said, “During the summer vacation season, the number of passengers in vehicles increases, which can lead to more traffic accident injuries. We hope everyone follows safety rules while driving to enjoy a holiday free of traffic accidents.”

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