Ministry of the Interior and Safety Conducts Special Inspection of 60 'High-Risk Areas for Elderly Pedestrians' Selected by Big Data

Selection of 60 Inspection Sites through Big Data Analysis

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 11th that they will conduct a special inspection from the 12th to the 18th in collaboration with the National Police Agency, local governments, and related organizations. This is to prepare for the entry into a super-aged society by selecting areas with a high risk of elderly pedestrian traffic accidents through big data analysis.

Although the number of traffic accident fatalities in South Korea has been on a decline, entering the 2,000 range for the first time last year, elderly pedestrian traffic accidents occur at a higher rate compared to advanced countries. According to the 2019 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the number of elderly pedestrian traffic accident deaths per 100,000 people in South Korea is 19.8, which is more than twice the member country average (7.6). Furthermore, in 2021, elderly people accounted for more than half (601 people, 59%) of the total pedestrian fatalities (1,018), highlighting the urgent need for improvement.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Road Traffic Authority selected a total of 60 inspection sites by comprehensively analyzing data such as ▲ floating population aged 65 and over ▲ the ratio of elderly people to the population by region ▲ locations of traditional markets and elderly protection zones, along with frequent traffic accident locations to enhance the effectiveness of the inspections. The inspection targets include areas with frequent elderly pedestrian traffic accidents that occurred last year, high-risk elderly pedestrian traffic accident areas, and locations requiring designation as elderly protection zones.

During the special inspection by related organizations, traffic safety facilities such as safety signs and speed reduction devices will be diagnosed, and customized improvement plans will be prepared for each site through risk factor analysis of the walking environment. The improvement plans will be delivered to the respective local governments for recommendations to be implemented by the end of the year, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will provide budget support if local governments lack sufficient funds.

Cho Sang-myung, Director of the Safety Policy Office, stated, “South Korea’s aging is progressing at a very rapid pace, and the increase in social activities among the elderly is raising the risk of traffic accidents.” He added, “Taking this special inspection as an opportunity, we will scientifically promote traffic safety management by reflecting big data analysis results in selecting inspection targets such as areas with frequent elderly traffic accidents.”

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