The Number of Vehicle Accident Data Recorder Items to Expand to 67 Starting Next Month

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority announced on the 10th that the revised regulation increasing the number of recorded items in the Event Data Recorder (EDR) from a maximum of 45 to 67 will be implemented starting next month.

This measure aims to address the growing concerns of people worried about suspected sudden unintended acceleration incidents. The EDR is a device that records the vehicle's behavior before and after a collision when an accident occurs, which is used to analyze the causes of traffic accidents.

According to the Authority, there have been a total of 111 reports of suspected sudden unintended acceleration accidents received by the Vehicle Recall Center over the past five years. Although the number is on a declining trend, such incidents still occur every year. Upon receiving a report, the Authority conducts technical analysis and on-site vehicle inspections to determine whether there is a defect in the vehicle. They also participate in accident investigations upon request from related agencies such as the police to assist in identifying the cause.

Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority

Information such as accident videos and driving record data helps in analyzing the causes of accidents. The Authority has developed and is utilizing a dedicated accident analysis program (K-AI, KATRI-Accident Investigation), which was registered as a patent in 2023.

They have also established countermeasures to reduce traffic accident damage by confirming the possibility of unintended acceleration caused by the accelerator pedal getting caught on the floor mat or external objects. The Authority stated that the most effective response is to operate the brake pedal and continuously engage the electronic parking brake.

According to data from the National Forensic Service, a significant number of accidents suspected to be caused by sudden unintended acceleration are attributed to pedal misapplication. In particular, the proportion of elderly drivers is relatively high. As Korea enters a super-aged society, nationwide measures to prevent pedal misapplication accidents have become increasingly important.

Starting this year, the Authority plans to add an item for pedal misapplication prevention devices in vehicle safety evaluations. Jeong Yong-sik, Director of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, said, "We will continue to make efforts to alleviate public anxiety and enhance safety by taking a scientific and reliable approach to suspected sudden unintended acceleration incidents and actively establishing preventive measures."

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