Daegu City, Complete Overhaul of Urban Traffic with 'Safe Speed 5030'... Driving Within 50 km/h on General Roads

Maintenance of Traffic Signs and Road Markings Until March ... Implementation Starting in April

Location map of 269 roads in Daegu area reorganized under the "Safe Speed 5030" policy.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Daegu City, which finalized the 'Safe Speed 5030' speed limits for 269 local roads (831 detailed sections), announced on the 24th that it will refurbish traffic safety facilities such as speed limit signs and road markings by March, and reorganize vehicle speeds on roads starting in April.

'Safe Speed 5030' is a nationwide traffic safety policy that limits vehicle speeds to within 50 km/h on general roads and 30 km/h in residential and side streets, shifting the focus from vehicles to pedestrians as the foundation of South Korea's traffic policy. This policy is set for full implementation in April this year following the amendment of the Road Traffic Act in April 2019.

'Daegu Safe Speed 5030' mainly allows maintaining current speeds or permitting speeds above 60 km/h on expressways such as Sincheon-daero (80 km/h), Dalgubeol-daero, Dongdaegu-ro, Sincheon-dong-ro, and Apsan Sunhwan Road (all 60 km/h), which have exclusive vehicle use and circular functions, while limiting speeds on other roads to within 50 km/h.

Residential and side streets will maintain the current 30 km/h limit, and additional speed-related traffic safety facilities will be installed to help drivers clearly recognize the speed limits, thereby ensuring pedestrian safety, according to Daegu City's explanation.

Yoon Jeong-hee, Director of the Daegu City Transportation Bureau, emphasized, "We ask for the great interest and active participation of citizens in 'Safe Speed 5030,' which creates a traffic environment safe from traffic accidents for myself, my family, and all citizens."

Meanwhile, 'Safe Speed 5030' reduces pedestrian fatality risk by 30% with just a 10 km/h reduction in vehicle speed and is currently implemented in 47 countries. In South Korea, Busan, which implemented the policy last year, saw a 43% decrease in traffic accident fatalities compared to the same period.