Progressive Party Gwangju Analyzes '2022 Traffic Safety Index' Released by Road Traffic Authority
Seo-gu Councilor Kim Tae-jin: "Urgent Need to Create Customized Solutions by Autonomous District"
The traffic safety improvement levels for vulnerable road users such as children and the road environment at intersections in the autonomous districts of Gwangju Metropolitan City have significantly declined.
The Progressive Party Gwangju Local Assembly Members Group (led by Seo-gu Assemblyman Kim Tae-jin) announced on the 20th the results of their analysis of the "2022 National Basic Local Governments Traffic Safety Index" released by the Road Traffic Authority.
According to the analysis, among the 69 autonomous districts nationwide, Buk-gu ranked 64th, Seo-gu 60th, and Gwangsan-gu 56th, showing very low traffic safety levels in Gwangju’s autonomous districts except for Nam-gu, which ranked 6th, and Dong-gu, which ranked 34th.
The average traffic safety index scores were 73.79 for Buk-gu, 75.73 for Seo-gu, 76.72 for Gwangsan-gu, 79.28 for Dong-gu, and 82.77 for Nam-gu.
Buk-gu, Seo-gu, and Gwangsan-gu scored below the national average of 78.68 points among the 69 autonomous districts.
Assemblyman Kim explained that in Gwangju, including these districts, the traffic safety scores in three areas?vulnerable road users, road environment, and others?remained low.
Kim stated, “There was no A grade in the vulnerable road users category, two E grades in the road environment category, and except for Nam-gu, all districts showed a decline in improvement compared to 2021. The traffic safety level of Gwangju’s autonomous districts urgently needs to be improved from red to blue.”
In fact, among the 69 autonomous districts nationwide, Nam-gu in Gwangju scored 82.53 points, ranking 27th (B grade) in the traffic safety index for vulnerable road users, and Dong-gu scored 81.66 points, ranking 35th (C grade). However, Gwangsan-gu (77.46) ranked 59th (D grade), Seo-gu (76.74) ranked 62nd (D grade), and Buk-gu (64.09) ranked 68th (E grade), remaining in the lower ranks.
Regarding improvement rates, only Nam-gu recorded 1.62, ranking 18th, while Gwangsan-gu was -0.13 (41st), Dong-gu -1.94 (56th), Buk-gu -5.06 (65th), and Seo-gu -5.16 (66th).
Assemblyman Kim explained, “Nam-gu, which recorded the highest rank, was particularly vulnerable in bicycle accidents (C grade) within the bicycle and two-wheeler category; Dong-gu in pedestrian accidents (D grade) while walking on sidewalks; Gwangsan-gu in single-lane road accidents (E grade) within the road environment category; Seo-gu in intersection accidents (E grade) within the road environment; and Buk-gu in child accidents (E grade) among vulnerable road users.”
He added, “It is also a serious problem that four of the five autonomous districts in Gwangju, except for Nam-gu, showed a significant decline in improvement. It is urgent to create a safe traffic environment through customized solutions for each district.”
Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho yjm3070@asiae.co.kr
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