Riding and pushing a bicycle without a raincoat
"Seemed unaware that it was on the highway"
An elderly man was seen dangerously speeding on a bicycle on the Gyeongbu Expressway, where vehicles were rushing by at high speed.
On the 1st, JTBC's 'Incident Commander' released footage showing an elderly man riding a bicycle on the Gyeongbu Expressway around 7:30 PM on the 29th of last month, when heavy rain was pouring down.
At the time, informant Mr. A was entering the Namyangsan interchange on the Gyeongbu Expressway heading to Busan when he spotted an elderly man riding a bicycle on the expressway. In the released video, the elderly man was riding the bicycle without wearing a raincoat despite the heavy rain.
In a situation that could have easily led to a major accident, Mr. A turned on his hazard lights and followed the elderly man slowly. At the same time, he reported the incident to the police. The elderly man only stopped riding the bicycle after another driver stopped at the roadside to intervene. Mr. A explained, "The elderly man appeared to be very old and was unable to respond properly when asked questions, showing difficulty in communication," adding, "He seemed unaware that he was riding on the expressway."
Mr. A further told 'Incident Commander,' "Fortunately, other vehicles also slowed down, and thanks to another driver’s help, a bigger accident was prevented." He reportedly left the scene only after handing the elderly man over to the police who arrived following his report.
Netizens who saw this expressed reactions such as, "It was truly a dangerous situation," "It's a miracle no one was hurt," "The informant who turned on hazard lights and handed the man over to the police instead of ignoring it is really admirable," and "There should be strict control at entrances and other points."
Meanwhile, bicycles entering expressways or roads designated for motor vehicles only violate Article 63 'Prohibition of Passage, etc.' of the Road Traffic Act. Violators may be subject to a fine of up to 300,000 KRW or detention.
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