"Senior Driver On Board" Sign in Busan
Enhancing Traffic Safety and Consideration for Elderly Drivers
The "Senior Driver On Board" sign, piloted in Busan, has been found to be highly effective in improving the safety of elderly drivers and promoting a culture of considerate driving.
The Busan branch of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) announced on the 11th that it conducted a campaign to attach the "Senior Driver On Board" identification signs to vehicles driven by elderly drivers aged 65 and over within Busan. The purpose was to help other drivers and pedestrians recognize elderly drivers and encourage safe driving. To this end, the TS Busan branch distributed 2,000 signs last September to senior organizations and customers visiting TS vehicle inspection centers, and analyzed the effects.
A vehicle displaying the senior driver sign issued by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. Provided by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
TS conducted a survey on 191 participants, including 95 elderly drivers who had the signs attached and 96 general citizens, to assess the accident prevention effect and safety improvement of the signs.
According to the survey results, 65% (multiple responses allowed) of elderly drivers with the signs responded that their driving safety had improved. Additionally, 67% felt that other drivers yielded and showed consideration. On the other hand, the most common reason for not attaching the sign was "feeling burdened by other drivers' gazes" (43%).
General citizens also expressed a strong willingness to show consideration toward vehicles with the signs. 93% of survey respondents said they were willing to be considerate of elderly drivers. However, only 35% said they would attach the sign themselves if they became elderly drivers.
There was also a difference in the top priority improvement tasks identified by elderly drivers and general citizens to reduce traffic accidents involving elderly drivers.
Elderly drivers selected ▲strengthening traffic safety education and publicity (29%) ▲enhancing public transportation systems (25%) ▲support for installing advanced devices (20%) as key measures. General citizens prioritized ▲expanding benefits for surrendering elderly driver licenses (32%) ▲enhancing public transportation systems (21%) ▲support for installing advanced devices (21%).
TS plans to expand the attachment of the "Senior Driver On Board" signs in cooperation with related organizations and to develop additional measures to encourage participation by elderly drivers.
Jung Yong-sik, Director of TS, said, "The senior driver sign contributes to spreading a culture of considerate and yielding driving," adding, "We will do our best to create a safe traffic environment for both drivers and pedestrians by establishing a customized traffic safety network throughout the life cycle, from children to the elderly."
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