Chungnam Province Conducts Illegal Parking Guidance and Crime Prevention Patrols Using Autonomous Vehicles

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 22 Jun.2023 08:40(KST)

Chungnam Province will be the first in the nation to use autonomous vehicles for illegal parking guidance and crime prevention patrols.

Chungnam Province announced on the 22nd that a 14.5 km road in Naepo New Town has been designated as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone, and from August until the end of next year, for 17 months, autonomous vehicles will be used for illegal parking guidance and crime prevention patrol activities.

Additionally, an autonomous vehicle riding experience service will be offered to local residents around Hongye Park.

The pilot operation zone is an area where various regulatory exemptions are applied to promote autonomous vehicle research and pilot operations, designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Following the designation, Chungnam Province will implement three services using autonomous vehicles from the second half of this year: illegal parking guidance, crime prevention patrols, and promotion and riding experiences.

One passenger car with one to two safety personnel on board will operate along designated routes during daytime (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and nighttime (8 p.m. to 10 p.m.).

The illegal parking guidance routes have been set at intersections such as the Provincial Office Samgeori, Red Cross Sageori, Library Sageori, and Hongseong High School Sageori.

The crime prevention patrol routes include Supssok Haneulso Park, Fire Station Sageori, Jagyeong Village Sageori, Mulpengi-gol Sageori, and Hanul Elementary School Sageori.

The promotion and riding experience involves 8 to 10 people boarding an autonomous shuttle with safety personnel once per session, circulating a 2.5 km route around Hongye Park. The riding experience will be free of charge and available by prior reservation.

Hong Soon-kwang, Director of the Construction and Transportation Bureau of Chungnam Province, stated, “The designation of Naepo New Town as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone is significant as it marks the first step toward becoming a future mobility specialized city.”