Jongno-gu, 2020 Traffic Culture Index Survey: Secret to Being Ranked 1st Among Seoul Districts?

Despite being a busy downtown area with high daily floating population and traffic volume in Jongno-gu, meaningful results achieved... Received high scores evenly in 'signal compliance rate' and 'local government expertise acquisition' among others

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) ranked first among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul by receiving the highest evaluation in the '2020 Traffic Culture Index Survey' announced on the 29th of last month by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The 'Traffic Culture Index Survey,' which assesses the level of traffic culture in 229 cities, counties, and districts nationwide, has been conducted annually with the purpose of objectively measuring public traffic safety awareness and serving as basic data for policy development to improve related culture.

Based on 18 evaluation indicators across three categories?driving and pedestrian behavior, and traffic safety?the survey results showed that Jongno-gu achieved very meaningful results despite being a downtown area with significantly higher daily floating population and traffic volume compared to other regions.

Looking into the detailed evaluation items, Jongno-gu received consistently high scores in ▲signal compliance rate ▲seatbelt usage rate ▲crosswalk signal compliance rate ▲local government traffic safety expertise acquisition ▲implementation level of regional traffic safety policies.

In particular, the 'crosswalk signal compliance rate' indicator is noteworthy as it reflects the results of continuous installation of traffic safety facilities aimed at preventing traffic accidents and considering vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

Additionally, Jongno-gu is the only district operating the Safety and Health Management System (KOSHA MS) certified by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and is implementing substantial policies focused on resident safety through projects such as the 'Pedestrian Environment Improvement Project' and 'Traffic Safety Improvement Project.'

Going forward, Jongno-gu plans to continue efforts to establish a safe and convenient traffic environment befitting its status as a local government certified as a UNICEF Child-Friendly City, WHO Age-Friendly City, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Women-Friendly City.

As part of this, the district intends to continuously expand the installation of 'Firefly-type Crosswalks' that help drivers quickly recognize related signs and pedestrians during nighttime driving, as well as the 'Solar LED Project' throughout this year.

Furthermore, to enhance residents' traffic convenience and prevent safety accidents, Jongno-gu will thoroughly inspect facilities such as boarding platforms, waiting seats, and route guide signs installed at 210 village bus stops within the area, and immediately repair any that cause inconvenience or pose safety risks.

For systematic management of village bus stop facilities, the district will closely identify resident complaints related to facilities such as route maps on signs and BIT (Bus Information Terminal), and rename stops whose names do not match the local situation by reflecting Jongno’s unique characteristics and history.

Within 300 meters of the target sites, the district plans to discover appropriate new names considering unique place names, public institutions, tourist attractions, and regional representativeness, while maximizing resident opinions.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “I am very pleased that we have been recognized as the area with the highest level of traffic culture among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul. We will continue to focus on providing a safe and pleasant traffic environment as well as enhancing resident convenience by promoting various related projects.”

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