Nighttime Driving Increases 1.5 Times During Lunar New Year Holiday... Fatality Rate Highest Between 4 and 6 AM

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Traffic volume during nighttime driving over the Lunar New Year holiday increased by 1.5 times compared to weekdays, and the scale of accident damage was found to be 1.8 times higher than during daytime.

According to Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance’s Traffic Climate Environment Research Institute on the 23rd, accidents occurring during nighttime hours (6 PM to 6 AM) over the Lunar New Year holiday had a higher proportion of side-impact collisions, resulting in accident damage scale (insurance payouts) 1.8 times greater than during daytime.

In particular, the fatality rate among traffic accident victims between 4 AM and 6 AM was analyzed to be the highest, at 4.8 deaths per 100 cases.

In a survey conducted by the institute targeting 300 drivers aged 30 to 50, respondents answered that nighttime driving is 2.5 times more dangerous than daytime driving. The reasons cited included narrowed field of vision, eye fatigue caused by lights, and passengers sleeping during the drive.

At night, drivers are frequently exposed to high beams from oncoming vehicles or brake lights from the car ahead, which increases eye fatigue. The so-called "nunppong" experience?temporary blindness caused by high beams?was reported by about 85% of respondents.

To reduce accident risk during nighttime driving, it is necessary to comply with turn signal usage and maintain sufficient safety distance. However, the compliance rate for turn signals was only 57.5%, and only half of drivers maintained a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, showing little difference from daytime driving.

Additionally, drunk driving accidents occurred more frequently during the Lunar New Year holiday than usual.

Analysis of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance’s accident database showed that drunk driving accidents averaged 21.1 cases per day during the holiday, 16.6% higher than the weekday average of 18.1 cases. Fortunately, due to the influence of the Yoon Chang-ho Act, the number decreased by 34% compared to 2018, but drunk driving accidents on Lunar New Year’s Day itself increased by 29.4%.

This is because people tend to drink heavily the day before and drive with a hangover the next day or engage in "eumbok" (ritual drinking) and then drive under the influence. The institute also analyzed that family members around tend to encourage this behavior by accepting driving after drinking a little alcohol during the holiday.

During the Lunar New Year holiday period, accidents involving children aged 13 and under doubled compared to weekdays. This is because more drivers are laying mats on the back seat so children can lie down comfortably during the ride.

Dr. Lee Soo-il of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance’s Traffic Climate Environment Research Institute said, "At night, the field of vision narrows and the ability to recognize danger decreases, so compliance with turn signals and maintaining a safe distance are even more important than during the day." He added, "When children are passengers in the back seat, even if it is somewhat uncomfortable, it is necessary to use child car seats instead of vehicle mats or to always wear seat belts to prepare in advance for accident damage."