[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] There are urgent calls for regulatory improvements regarding the relaxation of usage standards for personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards.
According to data received by Oh Young-hoon, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, from the National Police Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 5th, accidents involving personal mobility devices (PM) have sharply increased each year: 117 cases in 2017, 225 cases in 2018, and 447 cases in 2019.
By region, over the past three years, accidents involving personal mobility devices were recorded as follows: Seoul 213 cases, Gyeonggi 208 cases, Daejeon 52 cases, Daegu 46 cases, Chungbuk 43 cases, Gwangju 36 cases, Busan 35 cases, Incheon 32 cases, Chungnam 26 cases, Gyeongbuk 25 cases, Ulsan 16 cases, Gyeongnam 14 cases, Jeonbuk and Gangwon 11 cases each, Jeju and Jeonnam 10 cases each, and Sejong 1 case.
Looking at the regions with the most accidents, Seoul and Gyeonggi, in Seoul, the highest number of personal mobility device accidents occurred in Gangnam-gu with 40 cases. The offenders were mostly in their 20s with 87 people, followed by 50 in their 30s and 26 in their 40s. There were also 19 teenagers and 2 children under 10 years old.
In the Gyeonggi region, the cities with the most accidents were Ansan with 29 cases, Suwon with 27 cases, and Bucheon with 17 cases. The offenders were mostly in their 20s with 60 people, followed by 51 in their 30s and 33 in their 40s. There were also 3 children under 13 years old and 1 person over 90 years old.
Personal mobility devices will be subject to relaxed regulations due to amendments to the Road Traffic Act effective December 10. Changes include the establishment of a definition for personal mobility devices, regulation of their traffic methods (same as bicycles), imposition of driver obligations, and allowing anyone aged 13 and older to use them without a driver's license.
Assemblyman Oh Young-hoon stated, "Personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards, which have become lawless on roads and sidewalks, are referred to by many terms including PM, personal mobility, and personal transportation devices." He added, "First, we need to start with a clear definition. In particular, there are many insufficient regulations that need improvement, such as unauthorized modifications of electric kickboards, parking issues, and the lack of penalties for mandatory helmet use."
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