In 5 Years, Traffic Accidents Involving Personal Mobility Devices Like Electric Kickboards Increased 15-Fold

Wearing Safety Helmets, Avoiding Mobile Phones and Earphones, and Turning On Nighttime Lights and Glow Devices Urged

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As traffic accidents caused by personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards and electric two-wheeled self-balancing vehicles are increasing, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has urged special caution regarding safety.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 26th, traffic accidents caused by personal mobility devices increased 15 times from 117 cases in 2017 to 1,735 cases in 2021 over the past five years. In particular, from May, when outdoor activities increase, to November, late autumn when the weather becomes chilly, the number of monthly accidents was higher than the average monthly accident count (285 cases).

Among traffic accidents caused by personal mobility devices, 40.4% (1,383 out of 3,421 cases) involved automobiles, and accidents with pedestrians accounted for 34.8% (1,191 out of 3,421 cases). In addition, accidents caused by drinking accounted for 9.5% (324 out of 3,421 cases), which is higher than the general drunk driving rate of 8.1% for all traffic accidents from 2017 to 2021, and more than half (51%) of the accidents occurred intensively from 6 p.m. to midnight, the evening rush hour.

In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety urged wearing helmets and refraining from riding with two or more people. They emphasized that riders should use bicycle lanes, and if there are no bicycle lanes, they should ride on the right edge of the roadway. Especially during nighttime hours when visibility is difficult, riders should turn on lighting devices, use luminous products to make their location as visible as possible to others, refrain from using distracting devices such as mobile phones or earphones while riding, and avoid using the devices after drinking alcohol.

Gu Bon-geun, Director of the Prevention Safety Policy Division, said, “Since personal mobility devices are convenient transportation means that can be easily reserved and used through mobile apps, to ride safely, it is essential to follow basic safety rules such as not jaywalking recklessly and always wearing a helmet. Above all, individual careful attention to prevent safety accidents is the most important.”