Korea Expressway Corporation "Request to Comply with Designated Lanes on Highways... Fatality Rate 1.7 Times Higher"

Korea Expressway Corporation urged drivers to comply with designated lanes to prevent traffic accidents and establish order.

Vehicles are moving near Suwon Singal IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Expressway Corporation on the 5th, the fatality rate of traffic accidents caused by violations of designated lanes on highways is about 7.4%. This is approximately 1.7 times higher than the overall traffic accident fatality rate (4.4%).

According to the Road Traffic Act, large vehicles such as trucks and buses traveling on highways must drive in the right lane, while smaller vehicles should use the left lane. The first lane should only be used for overtaking.

In particular, when large vehicles such as trucks and buses violate designated lanes, they not only disrupt traffic flow due to speed differences but also obstruct the visibility of smaller vehicles following behind, increasing the risk of major pile-up accidents.

Accordingly, during the autumn holiday season in October and November, the Corporation conducted intensive crackdowns together with the National Police Agency, detecting 7,676 cases (an average of 3,838 cases per month) of designated lane violations. This is more than seven times the average monthly crackdown cases (497 cases) from January to September this year. Most violations involved driving at a constant speed in the first lane or large vehicles driving in upper lanes, making them subject to enforcement.

The Expressway Corporation plans to strengthen enforcement by deploying patrol cars in areas with frequent designated lane violations until the end of the year and will also conduct patrols using drones. Messages about intensive crackdowns on designated lane violations will continue to be displayed on Variable Message Signs (VMS) and placards.

A representative from the Expressway Corporation said, "We plan to combine guidance and enforcement of designated lane violations together with the National Police Agency," and added, "We ask all drivers using the highway to comply with traffic laws and pay attention to safe driving."