[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The fatality rate of traffic accidents on curved downhill roads has been found to reach 7 people. The fatality rate refers to the number of deaths per 100 traffic accidents.
According to the Road Traffic Authority's Traffic Accident Analysis System (TAAS) data on traffic accidents by road alignment on the 22nd, the fatality rate on downhill slopes of straight roads over the past five years (2016?2020) was 2.30, higher than the overall traffic accident fatality rate of 1.71. In particular, the fatality rate of traffic accidents on curved downhill roads was 6.54, which is 3.8 times higher than the overall traffic accident fatality rate. Curved roads showed generally high fatality rates as well, with 4.3 on flat terrain and 4.2 on uphill slopes.
The Authority urged caution regarding road departures on curved downhill roads and brake failure of large vehicles such as buses and trucks on continuous downhill slopes. Large vehicles, due to their large and heavy bodies, may experience abnormal phenomena such as fade?where brakes fail due to increased friction heat from continuous brake use?or vapor lock?where brake pipe oil vaporizes and braking fails. Additionally, drivers are more likely to lose control due to centrifugal force when passing corners.
On December 3 last year, a passenger car traveling at high speed on the left curved downhill road of Goyeokjae in Sugok-myeon, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam, veered off the road to the right and hit roadside trees, resulting in 3 deaths and 1 serious injury. Earlier in July, a transport truck descending the downhill slope toward Hanjae Intersection at Hanjae Tunnel on Jwasuyeong-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeonnam, collided with vehicles waiting at a signal and pedestrians crossing the crosswalk due to brake failure, causing 5 deaths and 14 serious injuries. Shin Seung-ryeol, head of the Road Traffic Authority Safety Headquarters, stated, "Deceleration is essential on curved downhill roads, and for large vehicles, the use of engine brakes with low gear is recommended."
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