21 Billion KRW Invested This Year to Minimize Traffic Accident Risks in Child Protection Zones Following Road Traffic Act Amendment; Expansion of Speeding and Illegal Parking CCTV Installation and Replacement of LED Road Signs in 118 Locations Across 16 Projects
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Following the passage of the Road Traffic Act amendment (commonly known as the Min-sik Law) at the National Assembly plenary session in December last year, from March 25 this year, the installation of unmanned traffic enforcement equipment (CCTV) for traffic safety in school zones will be mandatory, and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes will be strengthened and enforced.
Accordingly, Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will invest a budget of 2.1 billion KRW this year to comprehensively and systematically renovate facilities within school zones to secure traffic safety for children and the elderly, who are classified as vulnerable road users due to their high risk of traffic accidents, and to prevent traffic accidents.
According to the ‘2020 Comprehensive Measures to Strengthen Safety in School Zones’ announced by Eunpyeong-gu, the plan includes ▲expansion of CCTV installation for speeding and illegal parking enforcement ▲designation of new school zones for children and the elderly ▲replacement of LED road signs in school zones ▲improvement works in accident-prone school zones ▲installation of sidewalks and pedestrian paths around elementary schools ▲installation of sign blocks ▲maintenance of aging facilities in children and elderly protection zones ▲traffic safety guidance for children commuting to and from school, among 16 projects covering 118 locations for facility installation and maintenance.
Looking into the details, a safe walking environment will be established by introducing new technologies such as ‘pedestrian signal voice guidance devices,’ ‘pedestrian traffic accident prevention systems,’ and ‘LED floor signals at crosswalks’ in places where jaywalking is a concern around children’s protection zones and school routes, and at crosswalks where pedestrians face high traffic accident risks due to drivers’ inability to check signals when turning right.
Additionally, two kindergartens (Seomun Kindergarten, Jayeon Kindergarten), two daycare centers (Happy Daycare Center, Bodeumson Daycare Center), and one senior center (Yeogiso Senior Center) will be newly designated as children and elderly protection zones, with the installation of traffic safety facilities and road accessories to create a pleasant walking environment aimed at preventing traffic accidents.
Upon completion of this project, the number of children protection zones in Eunpyeong-gu will expand to 79 locations (34 elementary schools, 30 kindergartens, 14 daycare centers, 1 special school), and elderly protection zones will increase to 10 locations.
Furthermore, for six children protection zones where traffic accidents have occurred in the past three years, traffic and road safety facilities will be installed or improved based on accident analysis by professional investigation agencies. In areas where illegal parking within children protection zones threatens children’s walking safety, sidewalks will be installed to create safe school routes.
According to the 2019 Seoul traffic accident analysis data (Road Traffic Authority), there were a total of 56 children traffic accidents in Eunpyeong-gu in 2018, a decrease of 25 cases compared to 2014, showing a continuous decline in accidents within children protection zones over the years.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “Eunpyeong-gu has significantly reduced traffic accident rates through efforts such as installing safety facilities and improving traffic structures within children protection zones. However, starting this year with the enforcement of the amended Road Traffic Act, we plan to cooperate with related organizations to create even safer school routes with the goal of ‘zero traffic accidents in children protection zones.’”
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