One-Third of Traffic Accident Deaths Were Motorcyclists... Police Launch Crackdown on Two-Wheelers

On the afternoon of the 5th, traffic police officers are conducting special crackdowns to establish traffic regulations in response to the spread of deliveries using two-wheeled vehicles due to social distancing caused by COVID-19. They are cracking down on motorcycle riders violating regulations at Gongdeok Rotary in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] About one-third of traffic accident fatalities are motorcycle accident deaths. The police have decided to conduct intensive crackdowns to enforce traffic regulations.

On the 17th, according to the police, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that starting from the 7th, due to the increase in motorcycle deliveries, they will implement a "Special Traffic Crackdown on Motorcycles" to prevent motorcycle traffic accidents and correct violations and disorder. The special crackdown is expected to take place once or twice a week until the end of November. Police stations with frequent fatal accidents will be concentrated, and about 900 officers from 15 police mobile units are expected to be mobilized.

This year, there have been 59 motorcycle traffic accident fatalities. This accounts for 34.1% of the total 173 fatalities. This is a 22.9% increase compared to the same period last year. The main causes of accidents are failure to drive safely and signal violations by motorcycles. In addition, motorcycle fatality victims caused by violations such as signal violations and crossing the center line by cars accounted for 27 cases (45.8%) of the total, indicating a high proportion.

There were 32 (54.2%) motorcycle-caused (single-vehicle) fatal accidents. In particular, more than half (34 cases, 57.6%) of motorcycle fatalities were delivery workers, showing that delivery motorcycles have a significantly higher risk of accidents.

Going forward, the police plan to mobilize all available field personnel, including police mobile units and local police, once or twice a week to conduct special crackdowns on motorcycles. They also plan to visit delivery companies to provide traffic safety education and publicity targeting owners and workers. Since motorcycle traffic accidents often lead to fatal casualties, all drivers are urged to strictly comply with traffic laws and participate in safe driving.