'Pedestrian Protection at Crosswalks' Enforced Since 1961... Illegal Acts Still Persist

On the First Day of the 'New Road Traffic Act' Enforcement, Only Enforcement of the 'Existing Road Traffic Act' Took Place

Drivers Pressing the Accelerator Even When Pedestrians Are Crossing... People-Centered Traffic Culture Is Still 'Not There Ye

Police officers from Gwangju Bukbu Police Station are conducting awareness activities related to the 'Right Turn Stop' following the revision of the Road Traffic Act at Saetteo Coa Intersection in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 12th.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] "You have violated Article 27, Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act. Please show me your driver's license."

On the 12th, the first day of the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act, which strengthens pedestrian rights, four traffic police officers from the Bukbu Police Station were at the Saetteo Koa intersection in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, staring sharply at the crosswalk.

This was to educate drivers on whether they illegally make right turns when pedestrians are 'about to cross.' Until now, the obligation for drivers to stop temporarily was only imposed when pedestrians were 'crossing,' but from this day it was expanded.

‘Crossing’ violations have already been fined, and for drivers who violate the temporary stop obligation when pedestrians are 'about to cross,' there will be a one-month education period.

After some time passed, the police officers’ gazes became even more intense.

When the pedestrian signal turned green and 2 to 3 citizens were crossing the crosswalk, a white truck attempting to make a right turn from Daecheon-ro to Seoha-ro was caught in the police surveillance net.

Drivers must stop before crossing the crosswalk line when pedestrians are crossing, but this was violated.

The driver, Na Mo (59), who parked his vehicle on the shoulder, showed his ID and immediately rolled up the window, full of dissatisfaction with the enforcement.

The police took out a portable traffic enforcement terminal (PDA), checked personal information and vehicle ownership, and after issuing a virtual account for payment, the driver left. Mr. Na was fined 60,000 KRW and received 10 penalty points.

Not long after, an even more alarming situation unfolded.

A passenger car driver ignored multiple pedestrians crossing the crosswalk, made a right turn, and then started driving straight. Although the driver slowed down upon entering the intersection, there were citizens just a few steps away.

The young driver, appearing to be in his 20s or 30s, expressed frustration, saying, "I didn’t know about the related law," as he accepted the fine notice and left.

On the opposite road, another passenger car blatantly ignored police enforcement and stopped while straddling the crosswalk, obstructing safe pedestrian passage. The police called this "illegal."

The revised Road Traffic Act includes provisions such as the obligation to stop temporarily when pedestrians are 'about to cross' the crosswalk, guaranteeing pedestrian priority on pedestrian-priority roads and outside road areas, and the obligation to stop temporarily regardless of pedestrian presence at un-signalized crosswalks within school zones.

On this day, the police came to the scene to promote the newly added 'right turn temporary stop' obligation following the revision but ended up only enforcing existing regulations against violating drivers.

Since the law was first enacted in 1961, vehicles have been prohibited from making right turns when pedestrians are crossing the crosswalk. At that time, this was stipulated in Article 44, not Article 27.

Ha Jung-joo, head of the Traffic Safety Team, said, "Confusion at the scene is inevitable for the time being, but we will strive to ensure the law is well established through active education and promotional activities."

He added, "We ask drivers to observe traffic laws carefully while looking left and right with the awareness that 'people come first.'"

Meanwhile, last year, there were 2,916 traffic accident fatalities, showing a decreasing trend annually. However, the proportion of pedestrian traffic accident fatalities was 34.9%, about 1.5 times higher than the OECD member countries’ average of 19.3%, revealing that pedestrian safety remains vulnerable.