'No Overseas Travel'... Summer Vacation Traffic Accidents Expected to Increase by 8%

As the peak vacation season begins, the domestic terminal at Gimpo Airport in Seoul is bustling with travelers on the 2nd. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of car accidents is expected to increase this summer vacation season compared to last year, as people are unable to travel abroad.

According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute on the 2nd, car accidents during this year's vacation season are estimated to increase by about 3-8% regionally compared to the previous year.

During the summer vacation season, the number of accidents typically increases by 4.5% and the number of casualties by 4.3% compared to normal times.

When examining accident areas by dividing them into the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas, the number of accidents in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon) during the vacation season increased by 1.7% compared to normal times, while casualties decreased by 0.1%.

On the other hand, in non-metropolitan areas, where vacation spots are mainly located, the number of accidents and casualties during the vacation season increased by 6.6% and 8.1%, respectively, compared to normal times.

During the vacation season, the occurrence of accidents involving younger drivers with relatively less driving experience was significantly higher than usual. The daily average number of accidents involving teenage and twenties drivers during the vacation season increased by 19.6% and 4.5%, respectively, compared to normal times.

Looking at the age distribution of accident victims during the vacation season, those under 20 years old accounted for a large proportion. Victims under 10 years old increased by 27.6%, and teenagers increased by 22.3% compared to normal times.

Due to high road temperatures and long-distance driving in summer, tire replacements and emergency towing service usage also increase.

The Korea Insurance Development Institute advised, "Due to the impact of COVID-19, domestic travelers using personal vehicles are expected to increase, so it is necessary to be cautious about speeding and traffic violations and to maintain safe driving."

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