Last Year, 2,551 Traffic Accident Deaths Mark 'All-Time Low'

Fewer Than 3,000 Accidents and Injuries for 3 Consecutive Years
Number of Cases and Injured Slightly Increased

Last year, the total number of traffic accident fatalities reached an all-time low, marking the third consecutive year with fewer than 3,000 deaths.

A traffic accident occurred near the roundabout bridge in Yongsan-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do.

According to the National Police Agency on the 11th, the number of traffic accident fatalities last year was 2,551, a 6.7% decrease compared to the previous year. This represents an 81% reduction compared to the highest annual death toll recorded in 1991 (13,429 deaths), and South Korea is one of nine OECD member countries where traffic accident fatalities have decreased by more than 80%.

However, the number of accidents and injuries has shown a slight increase since last year. Looking at the monthly death toll, fatalities rose in February and March, immediately after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and in August, the first summer vacation period following the declaration of the end of COVID-19. Although pedestrian fatalities decreased overall, they increased by 8 (6.2%) in January and February and by 26 (21.7%) in May and June.

Fatalities among the elderly aged 65 and over and on highways increased. The number of elderly fatalities from traffic accidents last year was 1,240, a 1.4% decrease, which is lower than the overall decrease in traffic accident fatalities (6.7%). Additionally, accidents involving elderly drivers increased by 1.4%.

Traffic accident fatalities involving two-wheeled vehicles, children, and drunk driving decreased significantly. Fatalities involving two-wheeled vehicles dropped by 20.1%, and among these, fatalities involving Personal Mobility devices (PM) had been steadily increasing since 2018 but decreased for the first time last year. Child fatalities decreased by 22.2%, and drunk driving fatalities fell by 25.7%.

A National Police Agency official stated, “To secure peaceful daily life on the roads, we will strictly respond to high-risk driving behaviors and focus policy efforts on vulnerable areas of traffic safety to continue the trend of reducing traffic accident fatalities.”

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