"Drivers Should Be Held Responsible for Traffic Accidents Outside Roads as Well"
Jeon Jinsook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Buk-gu Eul, Gwangju), announced on the 26th that she has proposed a revision to the Waste Management Act. The amendment adds private waste disposal operators and those who report waste disposal to the list of entities required to comply with safety standards, and strengthens safety management during the collection and transportation of household waste.
On October 30, a tragic accident occurred in an apartment complex in Buk-gu, Gwangju, where an elementary school student was killed after being struck by a reversing recycling vehicle. However, due to the lack of relevant legal grounds, there was an issue that no administrative action or any other measures could be taken against the company involved.
Additionally, under current law, areas such as apartment complexes, residential areas, schoolyards, and parking lots are classified as zones outside of roads. As a result, even if a traffic accident occurs in these areas, the responsible driver is not subject to the 12 major negligence liabilities. To address this loophole, Jeon also proposed an amendment to the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling, which would allow for accountability when accidents occur outside of roadways.
Jeon stated, "If institutional measures had been in place, this accident could have been fully prevented," and explained the purpose of the bill, saying, "Through the revision of the relevant laws, I will work to create an environment where our children can move about safely, at least within the boundaries of their 'home.'"
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