Four High-Accident Locations First Designated in June... Strengthening Safety for Elderly Pedestrians Who Account for Over Half of Fatal Accidents
Seongbuk-gu Jangwi Market, Dongdaemun-gu Cheongnyangni Fruit and Vegetable Market, Dobong-gu Dokkaebi Market, Dongjak-gu Seongdae Market
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 18th that it will designate four traditional market areas as ‘Senior Protection Zones’ for the first time this year and will newly designate a total of 11 zones including traditional markets by the end of the year.
The four traditional markets are Jangwi Market in Seongbuk-gu, Cheongnyangni Fruit and Vegetable Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Dokkaebi Market in Dobong-gu, and Seongdae Market in Dongjak-gu. The entrance of Jangwi Traditional Market in Seongbuk-gu is a very congested spot due to market users, vehicles, and illegal parking, where four senior pedestrian accidents occurred in 2019 alone.
Seoul City added ‘X’-shaped crosswalks and directional traffic signals here so that pedestrians can safely cross in any direction during pedestrian signal times. In addition, to prevent illegal parking near the intersection, illegal parking enforcement cameras will be installed, sidewalks will be expanded, and safety fences will be installed to completely block illegal parking.
Furthermore, accident-prone areas such as Iljasan Park in Gangdong-gu and the road in front of Boramae Park in Gwanak-gu will also be newly designated as ‘Senior Protection Zones’ this year. The intersection in front of Iljasan Park in Dunchon 2-dong, Gangdong-gu, is adjacent to the park and the Veterans Hospital, where there is frequent senior pedestrian traffic. However, since it is a straight road connecting Gangdong and Songpa, there are many vehicles and many cases of speeding, resulting in two senior pedestrian fatal accidents in 2019.
Although the roads in front of Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Gosanjaro, and Boramaero in front of Boramae Park in Gwanak-gu, where two senior pedestrian fatal accidents occurred in 2019, are subject to designation as Senior Protection Zones, temporary measures such as safety fences to prevent jaywalking are being implemented due to ongoing or planned construction of the Sillim Line and Dongbuk Line light rail transit. After the completion of the light rail transit, these areas will be newly designated and managed as Senior Protection Zones.
In addition, residential areas around senior pedestrian facilities such as Dangok Senior Center in Gwanak-gu, Hongik Senior Center in Seodaemun-gu, and Dongdaemun Senior Welfare Center will also be designated as ‘Senior Protection Zones’ and the side roads will be improved with red anti-slip pavement and Senior Protection Zone guide signs.
Since this is the first time Seoul City is designating ‘traditional markets’ as Senior Protection Zones, it plans to create a standard model by type that reflects the characteristics of senior pedestrian accidents and the road traffic characteristics of each region, and will select a ‘traffic safety diagnosis expert institution’ to carry out this task by the end of this month.
Meanwhile, before designating the ‘Senior Protection Zones,’ Seoul City will sufficiently consult with merchant associations and relevant departments of autonomous districts to seek reasonable measures such as designating non-senior pedestrian hours as permitted loading and unloading parking times.
Lee Hye-kyung, Seoul City’s Walkability Planning Officer, said, “To create the world’s best ‘advanced pedestrian city,’ the safety of vulnerable pedestrians must be guaranteed above all,” adding, “As Seoul is rapidly heading toward a super-aged society, we will proactively prepare effective measures to prevent senior pedestrian accidents.”
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