Sejong-si Strengthens Traffic Safety Measures for the Elderly

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City is strengthening measures for elderly traffic safety.

The city announced on the 25th that it will implement elderly traffic safety measures including expanding elderly protection zones and providing incentives for elderly drivers to voluntarily surrender their driver's licenses to reduce traffic accidents involving the elderly.

According to the city, last year Sejong ranked first nationwide in indicators such as traffic accident reduction rate, traffic accident deaths per 100,000 people, and traffic accidents involving children per 10,000 children.

However, while traffic accidents involving children, a vulnerable group, have significantly decreased, traffic accidents involving the elderly have remained steady with 29 cases in 2018, 29 in 2019, and 28 in 2020.

Accordingly, the city secured a budget of 200 million KRW for elderly traffic safety and decided to promote measures to ensure pedestrian safety for the elderly and reduce traffic accidents involving elderly drivers.

First, the city plans to newly designate areas with frequent elderly pedestrian traffic accidents, such as Saenae-ro in front of Jochiwon Traditional Market, as elderly protection zones and install traffic safety facilities to encourage drivers to pay attention to elderly traffic safety.

When designated as an elderly protection zone, the vehicle speed limit will be lowered from the existing 40 km/h to 30 km/h, and safety infrastructure such as jaywalking prevention facilities and illegal parking prevention posts around crosswalks will be significantly expanded.

The city also plans to complete improvements to safety facilities for elderly pedestrians within this year by upgrading worn road markings and signs and installing speed prevention facilities in the existing five elderly protection zones, including Sejong Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.

Measures to encourage voluntary surrender of driver's licenses by elderly drivers have also been prepared. Starting from the 28th of this month, the city will provide a 100,000 KRW transportation card to those aged 70 or older who surrender their driver's licenses at their local eup, myeon, or dong offices until the budget is exhausted.

Additionally, to foster a traffic culture considerate of elderly drivers, vehicle identification stickers for elderly drivers will be distributed.

In particular, in eup and myeon areas where motorcycle and small tractor accidents are frequent, starting next month, the city will jointly promote a project with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to distribute safety helmets, small tractor blinkers, and reflectors for small tractors and motorcycles.

The city plans to reduce traffic accidents involving the elderly in the jurisdiction through these measures and establish an advanced traffic culture that considers vulnerable road users.

Ko Seong-jin, Director of the Construction and Transportation Bureau of the city, said, “We will strive to create an environment where the elderly can move comfortably without worrying about traffic accidents.”