Children Safety Zones to Expand 'Yellow Crosswalks'... Enforcement Rules Revised in Second Half of the Year

'Ensuring Public Safety for Peace of Mind' Practice
Expansion of Protective Fence Installation

The police will further strengthen safety facilities within school zones to ensure the public feels secure in their daily lives.

On the morning of the 17th, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, visited Deokui Elementary School in Guro-gu, Seoul, to conduct an on-site inspection of safety facilities in the school zone, crossing the yellow crosswalk together with children. Photo by National Police Agency

On the 17th, the National Police Agency announced that it will expand the installation of yellow crosswalks in school zones by revising the enforcement regulations in the second half of this year. Additionally, it will expand the introduction of start and end point road markings and the installation of protective fences. This is to implement the National Police Agency’s key national agenda of "ensuring public safety in daily life" on the first anniversary of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

The National Police Agency has previously promoted a pilot operation to change the color of crosswalks in school zones from the existing white to yellow, which symbolizes school zones.

As a result of a three-month pilot installation last year in 12 school zones across 7 cities and provinces nationwide, both pedestrians and drivers showed high satisfaction. According to the "Effect Analysis of Yellow Crosswalk Pilot Installation" conducted by the Korea Road Traffic Authority in October last year, 59.6% of adults and 43.7% of students responded that vehicles stop more frequently at yellow crosswalks.

Start and end point road markings in school zones are road markings installed at the points where the protection zone begins or ends to improve visibility. A start point marking is installed at the beginning of the protection zone, and an end point marking is installed at the end. The installation of protective fences will be expanded through amendments to the Road Traffic Act and other measures.

On the same day, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, visited Deokui Elementary School in Guro-gu, Seoul, where the first yellow crosswalk in Seoul was installed, to inspect safety facilities and listen to voices from the field. He personally attached safety items such as bag covers to children going to school and guided them across the crosswalk. He held a meeting with parents, schools, local governments, and other stakeholders to exchange opinions on "measures to enhance children's traffic safety."

At the meeting, Commissioner Yoon said, "I hope this will be a time to think about creating an environment where all children nationwide can grow up correctly without worrying about traffic safety in a better environment than now," and added, "We will work to secure the budget by stipulating in the law that protective fences must be installed in school zones."

Afterwards, Commissioner Yoon visited Sindorim Middle School in Guro-gu, Seoul, and conducted school violence prevention education for about 30 students.

Meanwhile, the National Police Agency stated, "We plan to reflect the opinions gathered from the Deokui Elementary School meeting and the Sindorim Middle School violence prevention education in major policies," and added, "We will continuously monitor the implementation status of the Yoon administration’s national agenda related to public safety."

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