Road Traffic Authority: "Traffic Accident Deaths Enter Second Halving Period in 2020"

Even Compared to Major OECD Countries, the Decline Trend Is Rapid

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] An analysis revealed that the number of traffic accident fatalities in South Korea reached the second halving period last year. The halving period refers to the time taken for traffic accident deaths to decrease by half.

The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 14th that this was the result of analyzing traffic accidents over the past 56 years.

According to the Authority, since 1991, when the highest number of traffic accident deaths was recorded domestically (13,429 people), a continuous decrease has been achieved, entering the first halving period in 2004 (6,563 people) and the second halving period last year (3,081 people).

In particular, pedestrian traffic accident deaths decreased by 85%. The Authority interpreted this as the result of continuous policy efforts for pedestrian safety and the improvement of public safety awareness.

It took 29 years for traffic accident fatalities to decrease to one-quarter of the original level, which the Authority explained is a rapid decline compared to major OECD countries. Among major OECD countries with a higher GDP per capita than South Korea and that have entered the second halving period are Switzerland (34 years), Germany (39 years), and Japan (42 years), totaling 15 countries, with South Korea (29 years) having the fastest reduction cycle.

Min Kyung-jin, head of the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center at the Authority, said, "The comprehensive measures to reduce traffic accident deaths and policy shifts from vehicle- and speed-centered approaches to people- and safety-centered approaches, such as the 'Safe Speed 5030' initiative, have resulted in a steep decline in fatalities."