School Zone Traffic Accidents Completely Prevented... Pedestrian Walkways Established Near Schools

Ministry of Education Announces 'Plan to Create Safe School Routes Around Elementary Schools'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Sidewalks will be constructed near schools to prevent traffic accidents in school zones (children protection zones) in front of schools.

On the first day of the revised Road Traffic Act, which includes no-parking zones in child protection areas and mandates special traffic safety education for drivers who cause traffic accidents in these zones, students are attending school at an elementary school in Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Education held the 1st 'On-site Visit Social Relations Ministers' Meeting' at Doma Elementary School in Daejeon and announced the 'Plan to Create Safe School Routes Around Elementary Schools Including Children Protection Zones' to prevent traffic accidents involving children on their way to and from school.

The government will first install sidewalks by moving school fences or retaining walls inward when there are no sidewalks on roads adjacent to elementary schools used as school routes.

From 2019 to last year, a total of 105 schools carried out such construction, and this year, 45 locations are planning to install sidewalks.

Among the 6,293 elementary schools designated as protection zones, 2,925 schools (46.5%) have roads adjacent to them with no sidewalks at all or only partial sidewalks. There are also 523 schools (8.3%) with no sidewalks whatsoever.

When it is difficult to utilize school grounds, alternative measures such as designating two-way roads as one-way or restricting vehicle traffic by time periods will be explored.

According to a demand survey by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 13 schools nationwide, including 7 in Seoul and 3 in Jeonbuk, expressed a desire to designate one-way traffic zones around their schools.

Additionally, to create safe school routes, the Ministry of Education will form a 'Children Traffic Safety Related Agencies Consultative Body' with central government agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency, local governments, and traffic safety specialized institutions. The consultative body plans to integrate and link inspections of school surroundings' risk factors, which have been carried out separately by agencies in areas such as food, traffic, and environment.

Safety inspections of school routes, which have been conducted separately by agencies, will also be integrated into the 'Government Joint Inspection for Elementary School Opening Periods.'

Accordingly, related ministries and local governments will conduct inspections twice a year, just before the start of school in February to March and August to September, checking food, traffic, harmful environments, illegal advertisements, product safety, and playground facilities.

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