Last Year’s Traffic Accident Deaths Hit Record Low... Focused Management on Pedestrians and Elderly

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The government has decided to install right-turn traffic signals in areas with a high risk of pedestrian accidents, such as diagonal crosswalks, and to consider introducing a conditional license system for elderly drivers.

On the 16th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a joint meeting with related ministries at the Government Complex Sejong to review measures to reduce traffic accident fatalities and discussed these matters.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the total number of traffic accident fatalities last year was 2,735, a 6.2% decrease from the previous year, marking the lowest level ever recorded. However, the level of traffic safety still remains in the lower-middle range among OECD member countries. Additionally, fatalities involving two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, and personal mobility devices (PM) increased compared to the previous year, indicating the need for focused management.

Accordingly, the government plans to strengthen safety management for pedestrians and two-wheeled vehicles. First, right-turn traffic signals will be installed in areas with a high risk of pedestrian accidents caused by right-turning vehicles, such as diagonal crosswalks, improving the system so that right turns are allowed only when the green right arrow signal is on. Furthermore, pedestrian-priority roads with speed limits of 20 km/h or less on side streets in residential areas will be expanded to 50 locations within this year.

In addition, the government will promote raising the speed limit from the current 50 km/h to 60 km/h on sections such as bridges where pedestrian access is difficult and accident risk is low. The government will also install pedestrian islands and crosswalk lighting facilities for elderly pedestrians and expand designated elderly protection zones, currently focused on welfare facilities, to traditional markets and other areas. Along with this, the introduction of a ‘conditional license system’ that includes prohibitions on nighttime driving or highway driving for elderly drivers will be considered.

The government will also expand unmanned enforcement of rear license plates for motorcycles and other two-wheeled vehicles, which has been piloted since last year, and plans to prepare a license plate system reform plan for effective enforcement.

For PM rental businesses, which currently operate as freelance businesses, the government will introduce a registration system and push for legislation requiring PM rental operators to mandatorily subscribe to insurance.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it will establish grounds for canceling transportation business permits and driver qualifications if cargo trucks are illegally modified, such as by arbitrarily attaching leaf springs.

Furthermore, the standards for qualification maintenance inspections for bus, taxi, and cargo truck drivers aged 65 and older will be strengthened, and medical fitness examination standards for taxi and cargo truck drivers will also be enhanced.

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