Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance: "Traffic Accidents Increase by 28% When Driver Discomfort Index Rises"

As the peak summer vacation season begins, on the 31st, the area near Seojong on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway heading towards Yangyang is congested with vehicles heading in the direction of Gangwon Province. / Gapyeong - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] A study has found that traffic accidents increase when the discomfort index rises due to hot and humid weather.

On the 18th, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance's Traffic Climate Environment Research Institute analyzed 690,000 traffic accidents that occurred during the summer months (June to August) over the past three years. The results showed that accidents increased by 28% when the discomfort index exceeded 80 compared to when it was '80 or below.'

After the rainy season, high humidity and rising temperatures increase the discomfort index felt by drivers. Minor discomfort can lead to disputes between drivers, and traffic congestion during vacation periods acts as psychological factors that hinder safe driving.

In particular, the highest number of accidents occurred between 2 PM and 4 PM, when temperatures are at their peak. When the discomfort index was above 80, the proportion of accidents during this time increased by 7.2 percentage points to 22.7%, compared to the summer average of 14.5%.

Additionally, when the discomfort index exceeded 80, the accident rate among drivers in their 20s increased most notably by 8.0 percentage points, indicating that this age group is the most sensitive to hot and humid weather compared to other age groups. Since drunk driving accidents among people in their 20s are also most frequent during the summer (37.8%), special caution is required when driving during vacation periods.

Dr. Kim Tae-ho of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance's Traffic Climate Environment Research Institute stated, "During the summer vacation season, there is a strong correlation between the discomfort index and accidents, so it is important to maintain a comfortable mindset while driving." He added, "To prevent drowsiness, it is necessary to keep the air conditioner set between 20 and 23℃ and ventilate by lowering the window for about 10 minutes every hour."

When the temperature exceeds 30℃, tire puncture accidents occur 65% more frequently than at lower temperatures. The fatality rate of tire puncture accidents is 6.5 times higher than that of general traffic accidents, and the rate of serious injuries is 2.1 times higher, so special attention to vehicle inspection is recommended.

Dr. Kim added, "When the temperature is 30 degrees, the road surface temperature can reach about 70 degrees, causing a standing wave phenomenon transmitted to the tires." He emphasized, "It is necessary to increase tire air pressure by about 10-20% above the standard pressure, regularly check tire conditions, and replace worn tires in advance."

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