New 'Pedestrian Protection Duty' Established for Roads Without Separate Sidewalks and Car Lanes... Fines Imposed for Violations

Police Agency building.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A new regulation on 'pedestrian protection duty' will be established on roads where sidewalks and roadways are not separated. Drivers who violate this rule will be fined.

According to the National Police Agency on the 4th, the National Police Commission approved a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act containing this provision at its regular meeting the day before.

The amendment introduces a regulation prioritizing pedestrian passage on roads without separated sidewalks and roadways. If violated, fines of 50,000 KRW for buses, 40,000 KRW for passenger cars, 30,000 KRW for motorcycles, and 20,000 KRW for bicycles, etc., can be imposed. It also includes grounds for confiscating foreign driver's licenses when exchanging or issuing them for domestic driver's licenses.

Additionally, a partial amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Road Traffic Act was approved to allow strollers, walking aids, and walkers for the elderly to use sidewalks, and to specify detailed types of autonomous driving systems. The amendment is expected to be implemented as early as the first half of this year after review by the Ministry of Government Legislation and public notice procedures.

Meanwhile, the National Police Commission also approved the '2022 Comprehensive Measures for the Prevention and Eradication of Police Sexual Crimes' as originally proposed. It includes support plans for victims of sexual crimes to return to daily life, the formation of a 'Gender Equality Culture Innovation Network' to promote gender equality awareness within the organization, and the discovery and promotion of new tasks for sexual crime prevention and victim rights protection.

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