#. On the 8th, in Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk, an accident caused by a driving error (confusing the brake and accelerator pedals) by a driver in their 70s resulted in 4 deaths and 16 injuries. In March of last year, an SUV driven by a driver in their 80s crashed into a bus stop, causing 1 death and 1 serious injury. The previous year, a taxi driven by a driver in their 70s lost control due to careless driving, crashing through the outer wall of a parking lot building and falling. This accident resulted in 1 death and 13 serious injuries.
On the 8th, in Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk, an accident occurred due to a driving operation error (confusing the brake and accelerator pedals) by a driver in their 70s, resulting in 4 deaths and 16 injuries. Photo shows the accident scene [Image source=Yonhap News]
The number of traffic accident fatalities caused by elderly drivers' poor driving skills is increasing.
According to an analysis of traffic accidents over the past five years (2017?2021) by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, 30% of fatalities from driving errors were caused by elderly drivers aged 65 and over. For drivers in their 20s to 40s, the average was about 12%.
The proportion of fatalities caused by elderly drivers among all traffic accident deaths has also been rising annually. In 2012, fatalities caused by elderly drivers accounted for 13.3% of all traffic accident deaths, but by 2021, this figure had surged to 24.3%.
Considering the continuous increase in the elderly population in Korea, it is urgent to establish safety measures that take into account the characteristics of elderly drivers. The proportion of the population aged 65 and over increased from 11.7% in 2012 to 17.1% in 2021.
According to the Authority’s research, there are differences in risky driving behaviors between elderly and non-elderly drivers.
Elderly drivers showed statistically significant risky behaviors compared to non-elderly drivers at a 95% confidence level, such as sudden starts from a stop and abrupt steering maneuvers (sharp left/right turns, sudden U-turns, etc.).
Accordingly, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority has mandated the installation of emergency automatic braking systems, previously only equipped on buses and medium-to-large trucks, on all vehicles except ultra-compact cars (under 250cc) to minimize driver vehicle operation errors and reduce traffic accidents involving elderly drivers.
The new models have been subject to this requirement since January of this year, and existing models currently on sale will be gradually upgraded.
Kwon Yong-bok, Chairman of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, stated, “Korea is expected to enter a super-aged society by 2025, so the importance of preventing traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers is increasing. The Authority will do its best to develop safety measures considering the characteristics of the elderly to prevent any more tragic accidents.”
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