Jeju Police Agency Launches Rental Car Accident Prevention Campaign

Published 04 Aug.2022 14:26(KST)

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] Jeju Police Agency (Chief Lee Sang-ryul) announced on the 4th that it conducted a ‘Joint Campaign with Related Organizations’ at Jeju International Airport rental car houses, waiting rooms, and rental car companies to raise awareness of traffic safety among tourists.

This campaign was prepared to prevent traffic accidents as the number of rental car tourists increased with the lifting of social distancing and the start of the peak summer vacation season, during which traffic accidents have been occurring consecutively.

About 80 participants including heads and officials from related organizations in the province such as Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (Transportation Policy Division), Jeju Autonomous Police Committee (Chairman), Jeju Autonomous Police Unit (Commander), Road Traffic Authority (Jeju Branch Manager), Korea Transportation Safety Authority (Jeju Headquarters Director), Korea Airports Corporation (President), and Jeju Rental Car Association (Chairman) participated.

Jeju Police distributed promotional leaflets tailored to Jeju’s characteristics to tourists arriving at the airport, urging them to refrain from major rental car accident causes such as drunk driving and speeding, and to comply with traffic signals and wear seat belts.

They also directly visited rental car companies (114 companies) and urged company officials to thoroughly conduct safe driving education for tourists before dispatching rental cars.

Recent rental car accident cases include an incident on the 17th of last month at Geumnung Intersection in Hallim-eup, where the right side of a Kona vehicle (rental car) running from Geumnung-ri towards Jeoji-ri (north to south) while violating a traffic signal collided with the front bumper of a Grandeur vehicle traveling from Panpo-ri towards Hagwi-ri (west to east).

Most rental car accidents occur due to unsafe driving caused by inexperienced driving or unfamiliarity with the area (over 60%).

In accordance with Jeju’s regional characteristics, the entire Jeju Island is divided into four zones, and videos are being produced to introduce accident-prone areas and driving precautions centered on tourist attractions in each zone.

They plan to promote this by sending QR codes (videos) via text messages to tourists renting rental cars.

Based on various accident data from the Police Agency, Road Traffic Authority, and Rental Car Mutual Aid Association, the causes of rental car accidents and accident-prone areas are analyzed, and improvements to traffic safety facilities are being promoted through joint on-site inspections with related organizations, tailored to tourists’ perspectives.

During the vacation season, special crackdowns on drunk driving are being intensively conducted until the end of this month, focusing on major summer resorts such as beaches, coastal roads, and tourist sites, especially at night and late-night hours.

Chief Lee Sang-ryul said, “I thank the related organizations and cooperative group members who participated in the campaign for their efforts to improve traffic safety in the Jeju area,” and added, “Rental car traffic accidents frequently occur due to the excitement of travel and unfamiliar road environments.”

He continued, “The local community will unite to improve the traffic environment, including facility improvements in accident-prone sections, and strengthen safety driving promotion for rental car users along with crackdowns on legal violations such as drunk driving.”