School Zone Accidents Surge 1.8 Times... Government Begins Cause Analysis

After traffic accidents in school zones, known as children's protection zones, surged by 1.8 times compared to the previous year, the government has begun analyzing the causes. The government plans to expand investment in safety infrastructure within school zones based on the results of the analysis and a demand survey.

On May 6, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it is working together with relevant agencies to analyze the causes of the increase in traffic accidents involving children within school zones. The ministry also stated that, once the results are available, it is considering what countermeasures can be implemented.

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According to the National Police Agency, the number of traffic accidents involving children in school zones jumped 76.2%, from 526 cases in 2024 to 927 cases last year. The number of fatalities remained the same at one, but the number of injured increased from 556 to 1,013. The most common type of accident was "failure to drive safely."

The main causes identified for the increase in school zone traffic accidents are the recent official introduction of variable speed limits (a system that operates different speed limits during school commuting hours and other times) and an increase in the installation of closed-circuit (CC)TV cameras. As speed limits now vary by time of day, drivers are more likely to become confused, and the enhanced monitoring system means that accidents that previously went undetected are now being captured. The variable speed limit system was piloted in August 2023 at eight schools, including Seoul Gwangwoon Elementary School and Incheon Buwon Elementary School, and is now reportedly being operated at 70 schools.

There are continued calls for a more robust safety network during commuting hours, with schools, local governments, and the police collaborating more closely. An analysis of the "Status of casualties among child pedestrians (aged 7-12) in children's protection zones" published by the Korea Road Traffic Authority in 2024 revealed that accidents are concentrated during after-school hours (2-4 p.m.) rather than before school, and the fatality rate is significantly higher among lower-grade students.

In particular, in 2024, there were 217 "accidents while crossing" within children's protection zones, accounting for 60.6% of the total 358 cases, indicating that more than half occurred while crossing the road. The main reason is the "gap in after-school safety management" when the flow of students is dispersed due to academy commutes, play activities, and the end of after-school care. Furthermore, an analysis of casualties by age group over the past three years showed that 83.3% of fatalities were among lower-grade students aged 7-9, and 59.2% of the injured were also in the lower grades.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to expand investment in safety infrastructure within school zones through a demand survey in the second half of this year. Since March, 14.6 billion won in special disaster and safety grants has been used to install sidewalks at 44 school zones and improve traffic safety facilities, such as protective fences, at 104 locations.

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