Installation of Pedestrian Signal Lights on Crosswalks at Eunnang Intersection in Junggye-dong, Nowon-gu

Pilot Operation of Pedestrian Signal Voice Guidance Devices at 10 Locations Including Nowon Station... Completion of Gwangun-ro 1-gil Pedestrian Street Project and Environmental Improvement Projects at 4 Local Elementary Schools

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has completed the installation of new-concept traffic facilities for pedestrian safety and improvement projects for school zone walkways and commuting routes.

The new-concept traffic facilities include LED floor traffic lights and automatic voice guidance devices, targeting locations where more than half of traffic accidents occurred during crossing, based on an analysis of traffic accidents over the past three years, with a 54% accident rate during crossing.

First, the areas where the ‘LED floor traffic lights’ were installed include Eunnhang Intersection in Junggye-dong, which is densely populated with middle and high school academies, the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail in Gongneung-dong where traffic volume has recently increased significantly, and the crosswalk in front of Yooksa Samgeori near Nowon Bulbit Garden.

The operation method is an auxiliary pedestrian traffic light device where the LED panel color installed at the pedestrian waiting line changes to green or red according to the crosswalk traffic light signal changes. The flashing light displayed on the floor reduces the risk of accidents for pedestrians such as the so-called “smombie” who walk while looking at their smartphones without paying attention to their surroundings.

Also, when drivers make a right turn, they can check the pedestrian signal lighting status through the nearby floor signal instead of the crosswalk across the street, helping to prevent traffic accidents.

The ‘automatic voice guidance device’ provides voice messages such as “Look left and right before crossing” when the green signal is on, “Cross at the next signal” during flashing, and if a pedestrian enters the roadway during the red signal, sensors detect this and issue a warning voice saying “It is dangerous, please move to the sidewalk.”

The installation locations include 10 places with a total of 24 units installed: Nowon Station in Sanggye-dong, Eunnhang Intersection in Junggye-dong, Nowon Community Center and Save Zone near Hagye Station, Singye Elementary School in Wolgye 2-dong, Miseong Miryung Apartments and Wolgye Health Care Center in Wolgye 3-dong, Dokkaebi Market, Biseon Apartments, and Yongwon Elementary School in Gongneung-dong.

The district expects these facilities to help prevent dangerous behaviors such as jaywalking, running out before the signal changes, or standing on the road waiting for the signal.

In addition, the district announced the completion of the ‘School Zone Walkway Construction Project and Traffic Environment Improvement Project,’ which was carried out over four years.

As part of the school zone walkway construction project, Gwangun-ro 1-gil (Wolgye-dong) is a school-dense area including Sungok Elementary, Kwangwoon Middle, and Kwangwoon Electronics Technical High School along with Kwangwoon University. A total project cost of 2.7 billion KRW was invested to underground utility poles and communication poles that caused inconvenience to pedestrians, reduce the road width, and expand sidewalks in a road diet project.

Furthermore, the traffic environment improvement project was also completed. Areas around Taereung Elementary (Gongneung 2-dong), Gongneung Elementary (Gongneung 1-dong), Deokam Elementary (Sanggye 3,4-dong), and Nowon Elementary (Sanggye 1-dong) urgently needed pedestrian environment improvements due to traffic congestion during rush hours and broken walkways. With a total budget of 1.3 billion KRW, color block pavement, speed warning signs, and traffic guidance signs were installed to raise drivers’ awareness.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Based on residents’ satisfaction and operational effectiveness of the LED floor traffic lights and pedestrian signal voice guidance devices, we plan to expand these next year,” adding, “We will continue to promote various projects to improve pedestrian safety.”