Ahead of the Implementation of 'Safe Speed 5030' on the 17th, a 3-Day Demonstration Survey Conducted
A taxi vehicle conducting a pilot operation ahead of the implementation of the Safe Speed 5030 policy.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The empirical investigation on driving time revealed that limiting the maximum speed in urban areas to 50 km/h has a minimal impact on driving time.
Gyeongsangnam-do conducted a joint empirical driving time investigation from the 6th to the 8th with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority Gyeongnam Headquarters, a delegation of residents, and KBS, ahead of the full implementation of the 'Safe Speed 5030' policy on the 17th.
This investigation was carried out to verify concerns about traffic congestion arising from lowering the maximum speed limit in urban areas from 60 km/h to 50 km/h due to the full implementation of 'Safe Speed 5030.'
On a 7.5 km section in Changwon-si Seongsan-gu, from 'Towol Elementary School Intersection ~ Seongsan Intersection ~ Mokdong Intersection ~ Provincial Office Intersection,' two taxi vehicles drove at speed limits of 60 km/h and 50 km/h respectively.
The test was conducted 17 times over three days, twice each during morning rush hours (07:00?09:00), evening rush hours (17:00?19:00), and nighttime (21:00?22:00).
As a result, the average driving time for 17 runs at 60 km/h was 22 minutes and 54 seconds.
The average driving time for 17 runs at 50 km/h was 23 minutes and 34 seconds, showing a difference of 40 seconds.
The taxi fares were on average 9,634 won and 9,652 won respectively, showing a difference of 18 won, indicating that differences in driving time and taxi fares were minimal.
Unlike outer roads, urban areas are inevitably affected by intersections and traffic signals, so reducing the maximum speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h did not result in a significant difference in driving time.
However, the braking distance decreased from 36 meters to 27 meters, and the probability of fatality dropped from 85% to 55%, indicating positive effects.
Additionally, the average driving speed during rush hours was below 20 km/h, and even during nighttime hours (21:00, 21:30), the average driving speed was below 25 km/h, so the difference in driving time was not significant.
Ahn Taesaeng, Secretary General of the Gyeongnam Branch of the National Model Drivers Association, who operated the test vehicles, said, "Because of the previous higher speeds, there were many cases of suddenly braking while focusing only on the road ahead. During the three days, I did not have to brake suddenly even once, and defensive driving was possible, which was good."
Regarding taxi fares, he said, "Since the signal system is the same, the time difference is only a few seconds, so there will likely be no significant change in taxi fares."
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