Dongjak-gu Joint Inspection of Child Protection Zones

By April, inspection of road fixtures management status and obstacles at all 65 child protection zones in collaboration with schools, police stations, etc., and collection of opinions related to the revision of the Road Traffic Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] According to last year’s statistics from the National Police Agency, an average of 4 child traffic accidents occurred annually in school zones within Dongjak-gu over the five years since 2015. The main causes were found to be driver negligence such as failure to comply with pedestrian protection obligations and safe driving duties, as well as roadside obstacles and illegal parking.

In response, Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) will conduct a “Joint Inspection of School Zones with Related Agencies” until April to prevent child traffic accidents and create safe school routes.

The inspection targets include all 65 school zones in the area: 21 elementary schools, 21 kindergartens, 17 daycare centers, 5 private academies, and 1 special school. Inspections will be carried out together with related agencies such as schools and the police station.

The main inspection items are ▲whether safety signs are installed according to school zone regulations ▲the condition of road accessories such as speed bumps, protective fences, and anti-slip facilities ▲and whether there are any facilities causing inconvenience to passage such as roadside parking or obstacles on school routes.

Additionally, after investigating the need for installation of traffic signals and enforcement cameras at each school in relation to the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, locations deemed necessary will be prioritized for future implementation.

The district will take immediate action on minor issues found during the inspection and establish plans to gradually improve repairs and maintenance of facilities.

Han Daehee, Director of the Traffic Administration Division, said, “Through joint inspections of school zones, we will create safe routes for children to commute to and from school with peace of mind. We will continue to do our best to create a safe traffic environment for vulnerable road users.”

Meanwhile, the district plans to further strengthen child traffic safety by replacing and installing 67 solar-powered LED traffic safety signs at 29 school zones in the first half of this year and adding traffic enforcement cameras to 13 school zones.