Slight Increase in Child Traffic Accidents in Incheon Last Year... Patrol Cars Deployed in School Zones

The police will actively work to prevent traffic accidents involving children by deploying patrol cars in elementary school zones (school zones) within the area.

Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 1st that it will implement a comprehensive child traffic safety plan prepared in collaboration with the Incheon Autonomous Police Committee.

First, to mark the new school term, the police plan to deploy patrol cars in the school zones of 108 elementary schools during school arrival and dismissal times. Police motorcycles deployed on site will focus on cracking down on violations such as signal and traffic restrictions by construction site trucks operating along school routes.

They will also strengthen enforcement against unregistered operation of children's school buses, violations of the obligation for guardians to accompany children, and failure to confirm children's disembarkation.

At the same time, they will conduct a thorough inspection of old and damaged traffic facilities within school zones and, in cooperation with Incheon City and the Road Traffic Authority, will promote projects to create safe school routes.

Child Protection Zone

Last year in Incheon, there were 368 traffic accidents involving children, a 2.5% increase from 359 cases the previous year. During the same period, the number of fatalities decreased from 4 to 1, while the number of injuries increased from 430 to 439.

Additionally, last year, traffic accidents involving children within school zones numbered 33, a 19.5% decrease from 41 cases (including 1 fatality) the previous year. However, pedestrian accidents among all child traffic accidents increased by 8.5%, from 106 to 115 cases.

An official from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "According to the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, vehicles must come to a complete stop at crosswalks within school zones without traffic signals, regardless of whether pedestrians are present." They added, "Drivers should practice defensive driving to prepare for sudden situations where children might run onto the road, and especially during the frequently accident-prone afternoon dismissal hours, extra caution is necessary."