Increase in Outdoor Bicycle Activities in May-June... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Urges Caution to Prevent Traffic Accidents

Steady Increase from March through May and June

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has urged special caution to prevent bicycle traffic accidents as outdoor activities using bicycles increase in the sunny weather.

According to the Ministry on the 12th, the total number of bicycle traffic accidents that occurred over the past three years from 2017 to 2019 was 40,744, resulting in 42,993 casualties (657 deaths and 42,336 injuries).

Bicycle traffic accidents began to increase from March, when the weather becomes mild, and steadily rose until May and June, when outdoor activities increase. In particular, May recorded the highest number of deaths due to bicycle traffic accidents throughout the year, with 74 deaths (11.3%). Among all accidents, 20,204 cases (49.6%) occurred in those aged 51 and older, and the main accident times were between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. (13.0%) and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (16.0%).

Furthermore, among all bicycle traffic accidents, the proportion of accidents caused by the offender was 39.4%, while the victim rate was 60.6%. Regarding violations by offending drivers, 7 out of 10 cases were due to failure to fulfill the duty of safe driving (63.8%), followed by crossing the center line at 8.6% (1,379 cases) and signal violations at 7.5% (1,205 cases).

Bicycles are classified as ‘vehicles’ under the Road Traffic Act, so traffic regulations must be followed. When riding a bicycle, cyclists should use bicycle lanes, and if none are available, they must travel along the right edge of the road. When crossing an intersection by bicycle, you must stop temporarily or slow down to check the status of other vehicles before crossing. Parking or stopping even briefly on bicycle lanes is prohibited.

Also, although bicycles are a convenient means of transportation that can be used anywhere, the rider is exposed without any protective devices, making them vulnerable to accidents. To ride a bicycle safely, it is most important to check whether the bicycle brakes are working before riding and to follow preventive rules carefully. Especially, never ride a bicycle after drinking alcohol. When riding at night, you must equip your bicycle with headlights, tail lights, rear lights, and luminous products that reflect light so that you can be easily seen in the dark.

Extra caution is required when riding a bicycle in urban areas. Various hazards such as curbs, uneven road surfaces, road bumps, vehicle entry prohibition posts, and advertising boards can be dangerous, so you should pay attention to the condition of the road.

Lim Kyung-sook, head of the Prevention and Safety Division, said, “These days are a good time for outdoor activities, and since anyone can conveniently use bicycles, it is essential to always follow safety rules and pay special attention to accident prevention.”

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