'Increased Accident Risk in Consecutive Tunnel and Bridge Sections'... Gangwon Region Expressways 'Facility Improvements'

Many Accidents in Three Consecutive Tunnel Sections (Dongsan 1~Dongsan 2~Bukbang 1 Tunnel)

File photo [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency is collaborating with the Korea Expressway Corporation to improve facilities in high-accident zones on expressways in the Gangwon region.

The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced on the 3rd, "An analysis of traffic accidents on expressways in the Gangwon region over the past three years (January 1, 2019 to October 30, 2021) revealed frequent accidents in specific sections. To proactively prevent these, we will conduct detailed safety inspections and install and reinforce traffic safety facilities."

According to the Gangwon Police Agency, facility improvements include: ▲ installation of two large VMS electronic display boards at tunnel entrances (displaying safe driving messages) ▲ installation of orange caution signs on both sides of tunnel entrances at 40 locations ▲ installation of two mobile unmanned speed enforcement units (to induce deceleration) ▲ complete replacement of LED lights inside three tunnels (to enhance visibility) ▲ installation of small warning lights and electronic signal batons at 18 locations inside tunnels ▲ installation of 'grooving' anti-skid measures at two high-accident slippery sections.

Meanwhile, the traffic accident analysis showed that 24.3% (173 cases) of traffic accidents on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway over the past three years occurred within a specific section (approximately 21 km from Dongsan Rest Area for Drowsy Driving to Donghongcheon IC).

Among the 173 accidents in this specific section, 44.5% (77 cases) were concentrated in a continuous section of three tunnels (Dongsan 1 ? Dongsan 2 ? Bukbang 1 tunnels).

In particular, rear-end collisions due to insufficient safe distance accounted for 61 cases (79.2%).

A Gangwon Provincial Police Agency official emphasized, "It is crucial for drivers to maintain sufficient safe distance from the vehicle ahead and to decelerate in advance, especially in areas with many tunnels or habitual congestion zones."

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