Expanding Left-Turn Guide Line Radius... Completely Preventing Intentional Traffic Accidents

547.6 Billion KRW in Damages from Intentional Traffic Accidents Last Year
Improvement Plans Reflecting Traffic Characteristics by Major Locations

As cases of intentional traffic accidents increase in areas with frequent traffic violations, the government has introduced improvement measures. Since intentional contact accidents occur targeting vehicles making left turns in lanes designated for straight driving only, the plan is to change the lanes to allow both straight and left turns simultaneously. Additionally, because intentional accidents are common at intersections with narrow left-turn radii, the turning radius of left-turn guide lines will be expanded to facilitate easier entry and exit.

View of the Gyeongbu Expressway southbound from Jamwon IC, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Not related to the article content.

On the 22nd, the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced that last month, in a joint effort with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Police Agency, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority, they conducted on-site inspections at 15 locations nationwide where intentional traffic accidents frequently occur.

The government initiated the on-site inspections as damages increased, including a rise in overall insurance premiums due to insurance fraud caused by intentional traffic accidents. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the amount of insurance fraud damages caused by intentional traffic accidents rose significantly from 382.9 billion KRW in 2020 to 547.6 billion KRW last year. The number of related detections also increased from 56,418 to 65,356.

Through this on-site inspection, the government checked the status of traffic safety facilities (such as road markings, safety zones, and signs) and signal systems at suspected intentional traffic accident insurance fraud sites, including the Ulsan Gongyeoptap Rotary. To preemptively block major traffic violations targeted by criminals, improvement plans reflecting traffic characteristics such as traffic volume and signal systems at each of the 15 locations were also prepared.

Review of Reorganization of Multi-lane Rotary Intersections and At-grade Signal Intersections

The government will improve cases where intentional contact accidents are caused by vehicles violating designated lanes by making left turns in straight-only lanes. To prevent drivers from violating lane rules, left-turn prohibited lanes will be changed to lanes allowing both straight and left turns simultaneously. Additionally, directional traffic signs and colored guide lines on the road surface will be installed to reduce confusion about travel directions.

At intersections with narrow left-turn radii where two lanes both make left turns, cases causing accidents by vehicles deviating from lanes (guide lines) will also be improved. The turning radius of left-turn guide lines will be expanded and colored guide lines will be installed on the road surface to facilitate easier left-turn entry and exit, thereby changing the traffic environment.

Cases of Improvement in Major Legal Violations Targeted by Crime. Provided by the Office for Government Policy Coordination

Cases causing traffic accidents by vehicles violating entry and exit rules at multi-lane rotary-type signal intersections with 4 to 5 lanes will also be improved. Colored guide lines will be installed on each lane in the rotary to clearly indicate travel directions and prevent sudden lane changes. In the long term, the government is also considering reorganizing multi-lane rotary intersections into at-grade signal intersections.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, "We will deliver the improvements derived from this on-site inspection to the relevant local governments and recommend prompt facility improvement measures," and "we plan to conduct a joint inspection with related agencies in the first half of next year to check the implementation of these improvements."

They also said, "We will disseminate the cases from this on-site inspection to other road management agencies (such as local governments) beyond the 15 regions," and "we plan to raise awareness by encouraging each agency to proactively improve unreasonable road environments in areas prone to intentional traffic accidents where violations are easy to commit."