Road Traffic Authority: "Stop at Red Lights at Intersections, Then Make Right Turns"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 26th that the revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules, which clearly stipulate the obligation to stop when making a right turn at an intersection while the front traffic light is red, have come into effect, urging drivers to exercise special caution.

The revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules, which took effect on the 22nd, include provisions requiring drivers to stop at the stop line, crosswalk, and just before the intersection when making a right turn while the front vehicle's traffic light is red. If there are no pedestrians afterward, drivers may proceed slowly and make the right turn without obstructing the traffic of other vehicles following the signal.

The revised rules also legalize right-turn traffic signals and specify installation standards. Right-turn signals are installed at locations meeting criteria such as areas with frequent pedestrian accidents, and when a right-turn signal is present, right turns are only allowed on a green arrow signal.

Previously, the National Police Agency and the Authority produced and distributed informational materials to minimize driver confusion that could occur during the initial implementation of these revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules. According to the Authority, there were a total of 56,730 traffic accidents caused by right-turning vehicles over the past three years (2019?2021). The number of fatalities was 406.

An official from the Authority stated, "The core of the newly implemented revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules is to more clearly define the obligation to temporarily stop when making a right turn while the front vehicle's signal is red," adding, "Since right-turn situations have conditions vulnerable to traffic accidents, it is essential to develop a driving habit of proceeding slowly while observing the surroundings."

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