Vehicle Flooding Risk Alert... Emergency Evacuation Notification System Established

Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service Collaborate with Insurance Companies, Development Institute, Associations, and Korea Expressway Corporation

The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service announced on the 26th that they will establish an ‘Emergency Evacuation Alert System’ to prevent casualties and property damage caused by vehicle flooding and secondary accidents on highways, which will be implemented starting from the 28th.

Every year, significant casualties and property damage occur due to vehicle flooding caused by heavy summer rains and typhoons, as well as secondary accidents occurring while vehicles are stopped due to accidents or breakdowns on highways. Until now, financial authorities have guided insurance companies to conduct on-site patrols in flood-prone areas such as riverside parking lots during heavy rain and typhoon events to minimize damage to insurance policyholders caused by vehicle flooding and to provide evacuation guidance. Korea Expressway Corporation also operated an ‘Emergency Evacuation Call’ service when high-risk vehicles for secondary accidents on highways were identified through CCTV.

Flooded vehicle.

However, flood evacuation guidance was only possible for customers of the insurance company to which the on-site patroller who recognized the flood risk belonged, and the secondary accident risk guidance was limited to Hi-Pass customers, leaving blind spots in evacuation guidance. The guidance process was also inefficient, as all steps from retrieving contact information of the risky vehicle to sending text messages (SMS) were manually performed.

Accordingly, the financial authorities, in collaboration with automobile insurance companies, the Korea Insurance Development Institute, the General Insurance Association of Korea, and Korea Expressway Corporation, have established an emergency evacuation alert system that uses automobile insurance subscription information to provide evacuation guidance regardless of the insurance company or Hi-Pass subscription status if the vehicle is at risk of flooding or secondary accidents.

With this system, when an on-site patroller from an insurance company recognizing flood risk or a Korea Expressway Corporation control room staff identifying a secondary accident risk inputs the risky vehicle’s number into the system (including photo uploads), the system immediately sends an evacuation guidance message (SMS) directly to the vehicle owner. The system also provides a telephone connection function for voice guidance, automating the guidance process to enable faster and more effective evacuation alerts.

The evacuation guidance messages are sent directly through the system, and phone connections are made via a secure number, ensuring that drivers’ personal information such as insurance subscription details and contact information is not shared with on-site patrollers or others.

This system is expected to enable prompt evacuation guidance for drivers at risk of vehicle flooding and secondary accidents. Drivers will also be able to recognize dangerous situations early and respond effectively, minimizing casualties and property damage.

A Financial Services Commission official stated, "Going forward, financial authorities will continue to make efforts to ensure the emergency evacuation alert system operates effectively, including strengthening on-site patrols of flood-prone areas such as riverside parking lots by the insurance industry in preparation for heavy summer rains."