Taxi drove 37 km in reverse on highway after 'opposite direction' passenger request... stopped by truck blockade

Taxi Driving About 37km in Reverse on Gyeongbu Expressway
Police Use 'Traffic Brake' to Safely Apprehend

A taxi carrying a passenger drove in the wrong direction for about 37 km on the Gyeongbu Expressway for 22 minutes. The police arrested the taxi driver, Mr. A (65), and booked him on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act.

A large freight truck mobilized to prevent wrong-way driving.
[Photo by Gyeongbuk Police Agency]

On the 24th, the Gyeongbuk Police Agency announced that around 5:15 a.m. on the 23rd, a taxi entering the Gyeongsan IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway and heading toward Seoul made a U-turn near the Innovation City in Dong-gu, Daegu, and drove in the wrong direction.

Upon receiving the report, the police arrived and used a "traffic brake," a zigzag driving method to slow down the speed of vehicles, to stop normally operating vehicles on the road. To stop the taxi driving in the wrong direction, two large freight vehicles, including a fuel transport trailer, were also deployed. One freight vehicle was parked diagonally across lanes 1 to 3 of the expressway to establish a control blockade line, and the other was parked on the shoulder to prepare for sudden escape attempts.

Police responding to a report of wrong-way driving and large cargo trucks.
[Photo by Gyeongbuk Police Agency]

Thanks to these efforts, the taxi that had been driving in the wrong direction for about 37 km over 22 minutes was stopped near the Gyeongju Tunnel in Geoncheon-eup, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk. Mr. A, who was caught inside the taxi, reportedly stated, "The passenger said it was the opposite direction, so I turned the taxi toward the Busan direction." It was reported that there was no indication of alcohol or drug use by Mr. A at the time.

The Gyeongsan Police Station stated that Mr. A is being investigated on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act. A police official said, "It seems the passenger explained that it looked like wrong-way driving," adding, "We need to investigate whether the driver acted intentionally." The official also mentioned plans to award certificates of appreciation to the initial reporter and the drivers of the large freight vehicles.

■ How to Report Wrong-Way Driving Vehicles

1. Report through Safe Report (Anjeon Sinmungo).
- For mobile, download the app.
- Even if not on mobile, reporting is possible via the website.
2. Select 'Traffic Violation' from the quick menu.
3. Submit videos or photos capturing the situation.
- Both videos and photos can be reported anonymously.
- Videos must clearly show the time in seconds.
- Vehicle numbers must be clearly visible.
4. Mileage points accumulate when reporting through Safe Report.
- Mileage points are credited when the report is accepted by the processing agency or after participating in a satisfaction survey post-processing.
- Accumulated mileage points can later be exchanged for small souvenirs or gifts.

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