"Fire Truck Accidents: Over Half Occur at Intersections"…Fire Agency Implements Reduction Measures

The National Fire Agency announced on the 14th that it will implement a ‘Measures to Reduce Fire Truck Traffic Accidents at Intersections’ as the safety of the public and firefighters is being threatened by a series of fire truck traffic accidents.

According to data from the National Fire Agency, there have been a total of 612 fire truck traffic accidents over the past three years, showing an increasing trend each year, with an average of 204 accidents and 173 firefighter injuries annually.

Among the 612 traffic accidents that occurred over three years, ambulances accounted for the highest number with 413 cases (67%) by vehicle type, and by road type, 321 cases (52%) occurred at or near intersections, indicating that the accident rate was highest at intersections during ambulance dispatches.

In response, the National Fire Agency is internally strengthening education and training for emergency vehicle drivers, while also calling for the public’s cooperation and participation in safe driving at intersections. Previously, the National Fire Agency signed a business agreement with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to reduce emergency vehicle traffic accidents, planning to enhance fire vehicle operation education and training using training facilities similar to actual road environments. In the future, they plan to jointly produce and distribute ‘Fire Truck Safe Driving Guide’ educational materials with the National Fire Research Institute.

Baek Deok-gon, Planning and Coordination Officer of the National Fire Agency, stated, “When a fire truck or ambulance is responding with sirens and flashing lights at an intersection, please stop briefly or give way, and especially when entering an intersection, carefully check left and right.”