Road Traffic Authority Announces Traffic Safety Index for 227 Local Governments
Sejong, Taebaek, Seoul Gwangjin-gu Receive High Ratings
Cheongju Shows Most Improvement Compared to Previous Year
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Among 227 basic local governments nationwide, Gangwon Goseong-gun was found to be the safest place in terms of traffic. Sejong City, Seoul Gwangjin-gu, and Gangwon Taebaek-si also received high evaluations.
The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced the '2019 Traffic Safety Index by Basic Local Governments' on the 4th. Based on 18 detailed indicators across 6 traffic safety areas, the Authority calculates the traffic safety index for basic local governments nationwide (excluding Incheon Ongjin-gun and Gyeongbuk Ulleung-gun) divided into four groups: cities with populations over 300,000, cities under 300,000, counties, and districts, on a 100-point scale.
Goseong-gun scored 84.85 points, recording the highest traffic safety index. The Authority explained that Goseong-gun showed significant improvements in pedestrian roadway crossing accidents and driver center line violations, and received high scores across overall areas and detailed indicators such as elderly accidents, intersection accidents, and pedestrian crossing accidents.
Among cities with populations over 300,000, Sejong City (80.62 points), Gyeongnam Yangsan-si (80.25 points), and Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong-si (79.77 points) received good evaluations. On the other hand, Gyeonggi Goyang-si (66.73 points), Pyeongtaek-si (66.26 points), and Gyeongnam Changwon-si (65.40 points) received the lowest scores. Notably, Changwon ranked last among all local governments nationwide.
Among cities with populations under 300,000, Gangwon Taebaek-si topped the list with 84.79 points, followed by Chungnam Gyeryong-si (84.73 points) and Gyeonggi Gwacheon-si (84.17 points) with high evaluations. Among districts, Seoul Gwangjin-gu scored 83.22 points, surpassing Gwangju Nam-gu (83.12 points) to take first place.
The Authority also disclosed improvement rates compared to the previous year. Chungbuk Cheongju-si, which ranked last nationwide with a traffic safety index of 57.50 points last year, rose by 10.93 points to 68.43 points this year. This reflects a roughly 45% decrease in traffic accident fatalities compared to the previous year. Seoul Yeongdeungpo-gu recorded 73.98 points, improving by 7.02 points from the previous year due to overall improvements in traffic accident occurrences and fatalities.
Min Kyung-jin, head of the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center at the Authority, said, “Traffic safety measures must be particularly strengthened in the vulnerable areas and detailed indicators revealed in this result,” adding, “We will spare no effort to support various initiatives to enhance regional traffic safety, including comprehensive statistical analysis of local governments.”
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