"Protecting Citizens' Lives First" Namyangju City Launches Comprehensive Plan to Reduce Traffic Fatalities

88% of Fatal Accidents Caused by Law Violations
Enhanced Protection for Pedestrians and the Elderly
Customized Measures Based on Five-Year Analysis of Traffic Accident Types

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Joo Gwangdeok) announced on October 30 that it has established a Comprehensive Plan to Reduce Traffic Fatalities after thoroughly analyzing the causes of traffic-related deaths and to protect the lives of its citizens.

Mayor Joo Gwangdeok is conducting a campaign to ensure child safety at Dasan Garam Elementary School together with citizens. Provided by Namyangju City

The city explained that a detailed review of traffic accidents and fatality types across the city over the past five years showed that while the total number of accidents and injuries is on a downward trend, the number of fatalities remains at an annual average of 20, which corresponds to 0.03 deaths per 1,000 people (about 60% of the national average). Notably, 88% of fatal accidents were caused by traffic law violations, and more than half of the fatalities involved people aged 61 or older.

Accordingly, the city plans to implement four key measures: strengthening pedestrian safety, enhancing traffic safety for the elderly, encouraging drivers to comply with traffic laws, and improving road environments.

To ensure pedestrian safety, the city will expand the installation of floodlights and protective fences in school zones and areas for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and add more speed-reduction facilities at unsignalized intersections and back roads. Starting next year, a towing system will be introduced for personal mobility devices (PMs) that are left indiscriminately, in order to secure safe pedestrian spaces.

For the elderly, the city will expand the automatic extension system for pedestrian signals, install facilities to prevent jaywalking, and designate additional senior protection zones. Promotional activities will also be strengthened to encourage elderly drivers to voluntarily return their licenses.

To encourage compliance with traffic laws among drivers, the city will increase the installation of unmanned traffic enforcement equipment, conduct traffic safety campaigns, and provide education for vulnerable road users. In addition, real-time traffic information will be provided through the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to help improve driver awareness.

Improving road environments to prevent accidents will also be a key focus. The city will conduct joint on-site inspections with traffic experts at locations where fatal accidents have occurred and in high-accident areas, identify structural and facility-related risk factors through consultation with the local safety council, and carry out phased improvements.

Mayor Joo Gwangdeok stated, "Traffic accidents are directly related to the lives of our citizens," adding, "Namyangju City will make traffic safety a core value of municipal administration and concentrate all administrative capabilities to create a safe traffic environment for both pedestrians and drivers."

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