Preventing 'Smombie' Traffic Accidents with 'Badak Signal Lights'

Geumcheon-gu Installs 'Smart Floor Traffic Lights' for Smombie Pedestrians and Vulnerable Road Users... Pilot Operation of Floor Traffic Lights at Two Crosswalks with High School Commuter and Pedestrian Traffic... LED Signals Embedded at Crosswalk Waiting Lines Allow Signal Visibility from the Ground

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) is installing and pilot-operating 'floor traffic lights' at two crosswalks with heavy pedestrian traffic, including school zones, to enhance the walking safety of the 'Smombie' generation.

'Smombie' is a portmanteau of 'smartphone' and 'zombie,' referring to people who walk while staring at their smartphones without paying attention to their surroundings. These individuals are highly prone to accidents as they are immersed in smartphone use and fail to recognize their environment while walking.

The district analyzed traffic accident statistics from the Korea Road Traffic Authority between 2012 and 2019 and selected two crosswalks with frequent vehicle-pedestrian accidents as pilot project sites: the crosswalk in front of Doosan Elementary School (Doksan 1-dong) and the crosswalk near the entrance of Hyundai Market (Siheung 1-dong) on Doksan-ro.

In fact, the area around Doosan Elementary School (Doksan 1-dong) has narrow sidewalks and heavy vehicle traffic, posing a high risk of traffic accidents during school commute times. Similarly, the area near the entrance of Hyundai Market on Doksan-ro experiences heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic, maintaining a constant risk of traffic accidents.

The district plans to complete the pilot installation of floor traffic lights at these two locations by May and will analyze the effectiveness in accident prevention and resident satisfaction to expand installation primarily in school zones in the future.

'Floor traffic lights' are auxiliary signals installed on the ground between the curb and tactile paving for the visually impaired at crosswalks, displaying the same signals as the existing traffic lights through LED panels. When the traffic light turns green, the LED panel simultaneously changes to green, allowing residents to check the signal more conveniently.

The district expects that floor traffic lights will provide practical assistance in pedestrian safety not only for Smombies but also for vulnerable road users such as wheelchair users, children, and the elderly, who have lower eye levels.

Additionally, the district is promoting various smart city projects, including Smombie accident prevention floor traffic lights, runway-style crosswalks, and smart parking notifications that protect the golden time in emergencies, to create a smart city centered on field-oriented smart services that resolve residents' daily inconveniences and provide inclusive, customized welfare.

Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, stated, "We expect that the installation of floor traffic lights will have a tangible effect in preventing traffic accidents among vulnerable road users such as children, the disabled, and the elderly. We will continue to develop various projects incorporating smart technology to create a safe city where residents can live with peace of mind."

For inquiries, please contact the Public Relations Digital Division of Geumcheon-gu Office.