Will Unmanned Enforcement Apply to Two-Wheelers... Police Begin Performance Verification

Traffic Violations by Two-Wheelers Surpass Last Year at Three Locations: Seoul, Anyang, and Seongnam This Year

Unmanned surveillance camera stock photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police, who are developing traffic violation enforcement equipment for motorcycles (two-wheel vehicles), will begin full-scale performance verification.

According to the police on the 5th, the National Police Agency plans to conduct performance verification experiments of unmanned enforcement equipment for two-wheel vehicles at three locations?Seoul, Anyang, and Seongnam?from the 19th of this month until the end of next year. For the performance verification, one unit will be installed each in front of a lodging facility in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul; in front of Seongnam Central Credit Union in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam; and at Byeoksan Intersection in Manan-gu, Anyang. Since this is a performance verification experiment, actual enforcement will not take place.

As of last year, a total of 8,982 fixed unmanned enforcement cameras for speeding and signal violations were installed nationwide. Including newly installed units this year, about 10,000 unmanned enforcement devices are expected to be operated in the future. However, the equipment installed so far could not enforce violations by two-wheel vehicles. Accordingly, since last year, the police have been conducting a 'Study on the Introduction Plan for Developing Unmanned Traffic Enforcement Equipment for Two-Wheel Vehicles' in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Road Traffic Authority. The commencement of performance verification for the two-wheel vehicle unmanned enforcement equipment indicates that development is practically in its final stage.

In particular, due to the surge in delivery demand caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the operation of two-wheel vehicles has increased, and consequently, traffic violations have also risen sharply, increasing the necessity for enforcement equipment. From January to September this year, traffic violations by two-wheel vehicles totaled 275,227 cases, already surpassing last year's total enforcement cases of 271,787. Among violation types, not wearing a helmet was the most frequent with 133,053 cases (48.3%), followed by signal violations (59,268 cases) and walking on sidewalks (15,059 cases).

A National Police Agency official said, "We are promoting measures to strengthen safety management for two-wheel vehicles to reduce traffic accident fatalities," adding, "We will develop equipment capable of unmanned traffic enforcement for two-wheel vehicles to prevent traffic accidents and encourage compliance with regulations."