Temporary Operation Autonomous Vehicle Accidents Quadruple... TS Promotes Cooperative System for Cause Investigation

Meeting with Related Organizations Including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Discussion on Advancing Accident Investigation Infrastructure

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) announced on the 28th that it is promoting the establishment of a cooperative system with related organizations to promptly identify the causes of accidents involving autonomous vehicles with temporary operation permits.

The temporary operation permit is a system that allows vehicles to drive on roads under certain conditions before official registration. In the case of autonomous vehicles, it is used for test driving on roads to verify technology and evaluate safety.

On the 28th, attendees of the "Meeting to Establish a Cooperation System Among Related Organizations for Rapid Response in Case of Casualties Caused by Autonomous Vehicle Accidents" are taking a commemorative photo at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by the Authority

On the same day, the Authority held a meeting at its conference room in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Police Agency, the Road Traffic Authority, the National Forensic Service, the Institute for National Security Affairs, and the Korea Motor Vehicle Damage Compensation Promotion Agency. The participating organizations shared the current status of autonomous vehicle accident investigations and discussed rapid response measures in case of accidents.

According to the Authority, the number of domestic accidents involving autonomous vehicles with temporary operation permits has been increasing annually. The numbers rose from 7 cases in 2022 to 27 in 2023, and 30 in 2024. It has been pointed out that accidents occurring on highways require prompt response.

Park Gi-ok, Secretary-General of the Autonomous Vehicle Accident Investigation Committee at the Authority, stated, "In the case of autonomous vehicle accidents occurring during highway driving, the possibility of casualties is high, so thorough safety measures must be prepared."

The Authority plans to introduce joint response drills by accident type and establish X-ray inspection equipment to analyze defects in key components. Additionally, it will strengthen research infrastructure by introducing an autonomous vehicle accident information management system and publicly sharing data at an international level.

Jung Yong-sik, President of the Authority, said, "This meeting is an important starting point for establishing a cooperative system for responding to autonomous vehicle accidents," and added, "We will take the lead in creating an environment where the public can use autonomous vehicles with confidence through information sharing among organizations."