Still Confused About 'Right Turn Stop'... Intensive Crackdown Until the End of June

On the 2nd, the National Police Agency announced that it will promote a comprehensive plan to normalize temporary stops for right turns at intersections over a two-month period in cooperation with the autonomous police committees of each city and province.

Although it has been a year since the enforcement of the Road Traffic Act, which clarifies the obligation to stop temporarily at red traffic signals and strengthens the duty to protect pedestrians while introducing new right-turn traffic lights, opinions have been raised that drivers still do not properly recognize the related regulations, indicating the need for improvements.

In fact, since the full-scale crackdown on right turns in April last year, the number of fatalities from right-turn traffic accidents has decreased, but the number of accidents and injuries remains at a similar level as before.

Accordingly, the National Police Agency has decided to implement a comprehensive plan to normalize temporary stops for right turns at intersections to secure peaceful daily life on the roads.

First, the number of right-turn traffic lights installed nationwide, currently at 229 locations, will be expanded to 400 locations by the end of the year, focusing on areas with frequent right-turn accidents.

In addition, considering that pedestrians are not easily visible to drivers of large vehicles when making right turns near crosswalks installed close to intersections, plans are in place to install crosswalks at least 3 meters away from the curved section of intersections.

Along with this, public service advertisements about temporary stops for right turns will be produced and broadcast through various media such as terrestrial television and outdoor billboards, and driver education will be strengthened by adding temporary stops for right turns at red signals to the practical test for obtaining a driver's license.

Furthermore, the National Police Agency will designate the period from May to the end of June as the ‘Intensive Guidance and Crackdown Period for Temporary Stops at Right Turns’ to implement visible guidance and enforcement to ensure that temporary stops for right turns become a routine practice.

A National Police Agency official urged, “Please be careful to stop temporarily at red signals and proceed slowly while paying attention to pedestrians when making right turns at intersections.”