The Return of the Cold Wave... "Be Careful When Passing Through Tunnels and Bridges"

Traffic Accident Fatality Rate More Than Doubled
Freezing at Tunnel Entrances/Exits and Bridge Joints
Drive Defensively and Avoid Sudden Acceleration

Traffic accident stock photo inside a tunnel. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] With the return of the sudden cold snap, the Korea Road Traffic Authority has urged safe driving to prevent traffic accidents near tunnels and bridges, which are prone to freezing.

According to the Authority's Traffic Accident Analysis System (TAAS) on the 30th, a total of 3,452 traffic accidents occurred inside tunnels and 6,789 accidents occurred on bridges over the five years from 2015 to 2019. This averages to 690 and 1,358 accidents per year, respectively.

In particular, the average annual traffic accident fatality rate (number of deaths per 100 traffic accidents) was 3.6 inside tunnels and 4.1 on bridges, more than twice the overall traffic accident fatality rate of 1.8. The Authority's analysis indicates that because it is difficult to avoid accidents in tunnels and on bridges, accidents tend to result in severe damage.

Extra caution is required during winter. Due to seasonal characteristics of snowfall and cold waves, road surfaces at tunnel entrances and exits as well as bridge connections can easily freeze.

Tunnels create visual constraints, making lanes feel narrower, and when entering from bright areas into darker ones, drivers may not be able to properly assess traffic conditions during the brief moment of adjustment. Additionally, due to the nature of tunnels passing through mountains, drivers may face difficulties controlling their vehicles because of slopes, curves, bridges, gusts, and strong winds.

To prevent traffic accidents, drivers should sufficiently reduce speed before entering tunnels and bridges, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and avoid sudden acceleration or braking. It is also advisable not to attempt reckless overtaking.

An official from the Authority stated, “Unexpected situations can occur at any time while driving, so it is necessary to develop a habit of defensive driving to prepare for unseen dangers,” and added, “Particular caution should be exercised in tunnels and on bridges, where accidents can be severe, by closely monitoring the movements of other vehicles.”

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