Increasing Accidents During Holidays... Actively Utilize Free Inspections and Emergency Dispatch Services

Car Accidents Increase by 26% During Holidays
Most Occur Just Before Holidays... Rise in Drunk Driving and Unlicensed Accidents
Actively Utilize Various Special Contracts and Insurer Services

As car insurance personal injury accidents increase during the Chuseok holiday, special caution is advised. It is also necessary to be familiar with and actively utilize services provided by insurance companies, such as free inspections and emergency dispatch.

On the 26th, the Korea Insurance Development Institute and the General Insurance Association analyzed the occurrence of car insurance personal injury accidents during the Chuseok holidays from 2018 to 2022, finding that accidents typically increase the most on the day before the holiday begins. The number of accidents on the day before the holiday was 4,214, which is 1.26 times the usual number. In particular, when the day before the holiday falls on a weekday, the number tends to increase even more, ranging from 1.36 to 1.57 times the usual.

The highest number of personal injury victims was on Chuseok day itself, with 6,692 people, which is 1.35 times the usual. This is attributed to the increase in passengers accompanying the driver on that day. The number of victims per accident was also higher at 2.4, compared to the usual 1.5, an increase of 1.6 times. Especially during the holiday, 40% of accident victims occurred in the afternoon (12 PM to 4 PM).

Drunk driving also increased noticeably. The number of victims from drunk driving accidents was 40.6 per day on average, but during the Chuseok holiday period, it rose to 50.5, which is 1.24 times higher. Victims from unlicensed driving accidents also increased by 43% to 14.0 compared to usual.

This is why there is advice to subscribe to various insurance products and actively use insurance company services. First, it is necessary to subscribe to a special rider that expands the coverage for short-term drivers in case someone else drives the vehicle. This can reduce the risk of accidents by avoiding forced long-distance driving and sharing driving duties. Last year, about 200,000 policies were subscribed to the short-term driver coverage expansion rider during the Chuseok holiday. The average subscription period was 2.5 days, and the average premium was 15,400 KRW. Utilizing rental car damage riders, one-day insurance (car insurance subscription on a daily basis), and leisure equipment coverage riders is also effective.

It is also important to actively use various services provided by insurance companies. DB Insurance offers vehicle interior sterilization and deodorization services to all customers using special compensation services at 275 Promy Car World branches nationwide until the 6th of next month. Customers subscribed to the Auto Care service rider receive 25 inspection services, including brake oil checks. Even without subscribing to the rider, basic free inspection services such as battery charging and 11 other checks are available.

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance provides free inspections year-round at Anycar Land for customers. During the Chuseok holiday, they also offer 24-hour dispatch services. KB Insurance also provides free inspections year-round for subscribers to the Magic Car rider. An industry official urged, "Since accidents surge during holidays, it is necessary to check vehicle conditions in advance and familiarize yourself with insurance company services and various special rider products."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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