[Insurance Tip ⑨] Fall Outings Surge with Quarantine Easing, How to Travel Safely

Seoraksan Autumn Foliage Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] As COVID-19 cases decrease and the government eases quarantine measures, more people are going on autumn outings. With the increase in people going out after a long time, safety should be the top priority.

Experts point out that during the autumn leisure season, traffic accidents increase and the risk of injuries during leisure activities is higher, so various preventive measures are necessary.

The Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute forecasted that highway traffic volume nationwide in October and November this year will increase by 12.3% compared to the same period last year. This is analyzed as a reflection of the increased demand for leisure-related travel that was suppressed due to COVID-19.

Traffic accidents also frequently occur during the autumn leisure season. Looking at the traffic accident statistics from the National Police Agency over the past three years (2019?2021), the average monthly number of accidents in October and November, the autumn leisure season, was 19,549, which is about 2,000 cases (11.7%) higher than other periods.

Gyeongbu Expressway Photo by Yonhap News

The average monthly number of deaths due to traffic accidents was 300, which is 48 more (19.4%) than other periods, and the fatality rate per 100 traffic accidents was 1.54, about 7% higher than other times.

The institute emphasized that to prevent serious injuries in traffic accidents, seat belts must be worn in the rear seats as well.

In South Korea, the Road Traffic Act was amended in 2018 to mandate seat belt use in all seats, including the rear seats, on all roads. However, even after four years, the rear seat belt usage rate has not improved significantly. It is still below 50%.

Last year, nearly 9,000 traffic accident casualties were people not wearing seat belts. The probability of death in a traffic accident without wearing a seat belt was 1.69%, which is five times higher than when wearing a seat belt.

Speeding, drowsy driving, and using a mobile phone while driving should also be strictly avoided to prevent accidents. Chae-hong Lim, senior researcher at Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute, urged, "To prevent major accidents during the autumn leisure season, drivers should make sure that family members or acquaintances riding in the rear seats are wearing seat belts."

If you enjoy various leisure activities such as hiking, camping, or golf, subscribing to related insurance products is also a way to prepare for accidents.

Travel leisure insurance sold by non-life insurance companies can cover various risks that may occur during outdoor activities such as travel, golf, hiking, and fishing. There are also products that compensate for injuries that may occur during sports such as cycling, skiing, soccer, and baseball.

Some companies offer leisure insurance products that can be subscribed to for just one day. Since many insurance products are inexpensive, costing less than 1,000 won, they have the advantage of allowing you to prepare for unexpected accidents with a small amount. There is also car camping insurance that covers accidents that may occur during vehicle travel.

An insurance industry official said, "As COVID-19 quarantine measures are eased, more people are enjoying autumn travel," adding, "Insurance companies are also launching various leisure insurance products in line with this trend."

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