42% of Holiday Highway Accidents Due to 'Inattentive Driving'... Most Accidents on Gyeongbu Line

If You Feel Drowsy, Immediately Use a Drowsiness Rest Area or Service Area... Frequently Ventilate
Secondary Accidents Have a Fatality Rate 7 Times Higher Than General Accidents... Turn on Hazard Lights and Open the Trunk

CCTV footage of the secondary accident near Haengchiryung Tunnel on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway on March 1 last year. A Santa Fe vehicle collided with a Sorento that had stopped on the shoulder due to a preceding accident, resulting in the death of the Sorento driver who was standing behind the vehicle.

Among 10 highway accidents that occurred during the holiday season, 4 were caused by drivers not paying enough attention to their surroundings while driving. The highway with the most frequent accidents was the Gyeongbu Line.

◆42% of Accidents Due to 'Inattentiveness'... Gyeongbu Line Has the Most Accidents

According to data submitted by the Korea Expressway Corporation to Min Hong-cheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, from 2017 to 2022, there were 236 highway traffic accidents during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holiday periods (19 deaths and 86 injuries).

By route, the Gyeongbu Line had the highest number with 51 accidents.

It was followed by the Seohaean Line with 19, the Jungbu Line with 17, and the Namhae and Honam Lines with 16 each.

Analysis of accident causes showed that 'inattentiveness' accounted for 100 cases, making up 42.4% of all accidents.

Speeding accounted for 36 cases, and drowsiness for 31 cases.

Min Hong-cheol said, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Expressway Corporation need to strengthen safe driving campaigns to prevent highway traffic accidents during holiday periods," adding, "I hope everyone has a safe trip home and back during the holidays."

◆If You Feel Drowsy, Stop Immediately at Rest Areas or Drowsiness Shelters... Ventilate Frequently

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Expressway Corporation, highway traffic volume during the Chuseok holiday is expected to increase by 13.4% compared to the previous year, reaching an average of 5.42 million vehicles per day. Accordingly, the risk of traffic accidents on the way to and from hometowns is expected to rise.

The surest way to prevent drowsy driving is to take a break at rest areas or drowsiness shelters. The Expressway Corporation recommends "taking a break of at least 15 minutes after driving for 2 hours."

Additionally, running the air conditioner with windows closed for a long time can increase the carbon dioxide concentration inside the vehicle, causing drowsiness. It is necessary to open the windows periodically to ventilate.

CCTV footage of the accident site at Naedong Bridge on the Gwangju-Daegu Expressway (2021.12.22). A 1-ton truck collided with a stationary K5 vehicle and a 5-ton cargo truck. The drivers evacuated outside the guardrail, resulting in no casualties.

◆Secondary Accidents Have a Fatality Rate 7 Times Higher Than General Accidents... Turn on Hazard Lights and Open the Trunk

During the holiday period, the risk of secondary accidents is about twice as high as usual due to vulnerability to drowsy driving.

Secondary accidents occur when drivers of following vehicles fail to promptly recognize the traffic situation ahead due to drowsiness or inattentiveness, and their fatality rate is about 6.8 times higher than that of general accidents.

If you stop on the main lane or shoulder due to an accident or vehicle breakdown, you should turn on the hazard lights and open the trunk to alert following vehicles, then quickly evacuate to a safe area such as outside the guardrail to avoid secondary accidents.

Even when helping other vehicles involved in an accident, you must ensure your own safety first before providing assistance.

Daegu-Pohang Expressway Wachon Tunnel (2020.3.4) CCTV on-site photo. A Lexus vehicle collided with a stopped Avante due to a vehicle breakdown, but the Avante driver evacuated to the tunnel utility duct (safety zone), resulting in no casualties.

Also, thoroughly checking your vehicle’s tires, battery, brakes, engine oil, and coolant before departure is one way to reduce sudden vehicle breakdowns and the secondary accidents caused by them.

A Korea Expressway Corporation official said, "With the easing of COVID-19, it is expected that more people will use highways this Chuseok compared to last Lunar New Year, so drivers need to be even more careful."