'Safe Speed 5030' to be Implemented in April Next Year... Road Maintenance in Incheon City

Main Road Speed Limit 50 km/h, Residential and Side Streets 30 km/h
Roads with Strong Logistics Transport Function Remain Unchanged

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is strengthening traffic safety facility maintenance and public awareness campaigns ahead of the full implementation of the 'Safe Speed 5030' policy in April next year.

This policy involves lowering the speed limit on general urban roads from 60 km/h to within 50 km/h to reduce traffic accidents. It was established through the revision of the Road Traffic Act enforcement regulations in April last year, is currently being piloted on some roads, and will be fully implemented on April 17 next year.

Once fully implemented, the speed limit on arterial roads will be lowered to 50 km/h, and in residential areas and side streets to 30 km/h. However, roads with strong logistics transport functions and low pedestrian crossing demand will not have their speed limits adjusted and will maintain the current standards (60?80 km/h).

The city is spending 6.2 billion KRW to carry out facility improvement construction on 6,396 roads covering 2,813 km and plans to complete this by the end of this year to ensure smooth policy implementation.

Additionally, the city plans to conduct promotional activities so that citizens can recognize the adjusted speed limits.

The city is producing promotional videos and using platforms such as Incheon Subway Lines 1 and 2, the Suin Line, bus electronic signboards, the city’s official website, and newsletters (Apps) sent to parents of 540 elementary, middle, and high schools to raise awareness of the Safe Speed 5030 policy.

Incheon City reported that a pilot operation of Safe Speed 5030 conducted last October on roads around City Hall (8 km²) resulted in a 7.1% decrease in traffic accidents and a 33.3% decrease in fatalities.

A real-world driving time study analyzed by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority showed that lowering the speed from 60 km/h to 50 km/h increases travel time by 2 minutes, indicating that the speed reduction does not significantly cause traffic congestion.

An Incheon City official stated, "'Safe Speed 5030' is a policy that shifts the road traffic paradigm from vehicle-centered to pedestrian-centered and is expected to greatly contribute to creating a safe traffic environment."