Incheon City Establishes 'Traffic Safety Implementation Plan' Aiming for 18% Reduction in Traffic Fatalities

Incheon City has established the '2023 Traffic Safety Implementation Plan' aiming to reduce the number of traffic accident fatalities by 18% compared to the previous year.

The city announced on the 10th that it has prepared a traffic safety implementation plan to promote 37 detailed projects in four major areas: expanding traffic safety facilities in high-risk areas, strengthening safety in vulnerable road user zones, prevention-centered safety management, and improving traffic safety awareness through education and publicity, with a budget of 254.6 billion KRW this year.

Last year, there were 103 traffic accident fatalities in the Incheon area, and the city aims to reduce the number of traffic accident deaths by 18% compared to the previous year through the implementation of this traffic safety plan.

In particular, various projects will be promoted to prevent traffic accidents among the elderly, who accounted for the highest proportion (33%) of fatalities by age group.

First, 19 additional elderly protection zones will be designated in facilities frequently used by the elderly, increasing the total to 208 zones, and for the first time this year, 40 unmanned enforcement devices will be installed within elderly protection zones.

Additionally, traffic safety leaders composed of members of the Women Drivers Association will provide traffic safety education to about 6,000 elderly people, and the number of elderly drivers eligible for transportation cost support upon voluntary surrender of their driver's licenses will be expanded to about 7,800.

Senior Protection Zone
Photo provided by Incheon City

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According to provisional traffic accident statistics from the Incheon Police Agency, 8,093 traffic accidents occurred in Incheon last year, resulting in 103 deaths. The number of traffic accident fatalities per 100,000 people was 3.5 (national average 5.3), ranking fifth lowest among 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, and the number of traffic accident fatalities per 10,000 vehicles was 0.6 (national average 1.0), ranking third lowest nationwide.

Furthermore, in the '2022 Traffic Culture Index Survey' announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in February, Incheon ranked third nationwide, demonstrating a high level of citizen awareness related to traffic.

An official from Incheon City stated, "We will faithfully implement this year's plan to create a traffic safety city where citizens can feel secure," and urged, "Since anyone can become a perpetrator or victim of a traffic accident, both drivers and pedestrians should comply with traffic laws and make traffic safety a part of their daily lives."

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