[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Starting from the 12th, the revised Road Traffic Act, which significantly strengthens the 'pedestrian protection obligation,' will be enforced.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency and the Busan Autonomous Police Committee have urged drivers to exercise special caution as the obligation to stop temporarily at all crosswalks will be greatly expanded.
According to the Road Traffic Act effective from the 12th, drivers must stop temporarily not only when a person is crossing at any crosswalk but also when there is a person intending to cross.
This measure aims to prevent pedestrian accidents that may occur when drivers, focusing only on the front, fail to notice a person about to cross the crosswalk in time.
The revised regulation is especially important for drivers making right turns at intersections.
According to the Road Traffic Act, when making a right turn at an intersection, drivers may stop temporarily and proceed slowly if the traffic light for the front vehicle is red, and may proceed slowly if the light is green.
However, if there are pedestrians, drivers must stop temporarily regardless of the signal and then proceed slowly after the pedestrians have safely crossed the road.
From the 12th, even if there is only a person intending to cross the crosswalk, it is considered that pedestrians are present, and drivers must stop temporarily.
From the driver's perspective, when making a right turn at an intersection, they must be careful not to obstruct other vehicles and closely check the right blind spot for anyone preparing to cross the crosswalk.
The obligation to stop temporarily is even more strictly applied in school zones. At crosswalks without traffic lights within school zones, drivers must stop temporarily and then proceed slowly regardless of the presence of pedestrians.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "It is safer to develop the habit of stopping temporarily before passing crosswalks and crosswalks without traffic lights within school zones when making right turns at intersections," and added, "We plan to conduct focused publicity and on-site police activities regarding this."
The police agency plans to install reflective materials and banners that are highly visible to drivers at crosswalks in intersections where traffic accidents frequently occur and at crosswalks in school zones, and will also attach promotional slogans on the exterior of buses.
More detailed information will be produced in leaflet form and distributed to citizens at police station civil service offices and driver’s license examination centers.
Regarding violations, for one month starting from the 12th, warnings will be prioritized considering the initial enforcement period, but if the driving is judged to be dangerously threatening pedestrian safety, fines will be imposed even during the warning period.
The fine is 60,000 KRW and 10 penalty points for passenger cars.
A representative from the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said, "The Road Traffic Act, effective from the 12th, includes the expansion of the obligation to stop temporarily at crosswalks, the establishment of pedestrian-priority roads, and the application of pedestrian protection obligations even outside roads," adding, "Drivers must now accept a pedestrian-centered traffic culture as a given."
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