17,000 Violations at Hakgang Elementary in Gwangju
15,000 Violations at Seungju Elementary in South Jeolla
Speeding Concentrated in 30 km/h School Zones
Last year, the majority of locations in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province where drivers were most frequently caught by speed enforcement cameras were child protection zones (school zones).
According to statistics on speeding violations recorded by fixed automated enforcement cameras in 2023, released by the Gwangju and South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency on May 11, the area with the highest number of violations in Gwangju was the school zone near the annexed kindergarten of Hakgang Elementary School on Cheonbyeonuro in Dong-gu. A total of 17,394 violations were recorded there.
This was followed by the entrance to the Gyesu intersection on Bitgoeul-daero in Seo-gu (from Dongnim IC to Geumho-dong) with 14,658 cases; the school zone at Seongmo Namhae Kindergarten on Cheomdan Wolbong-ro in Gwangsan-gu with 11,156 cases; the school zone at the annexed kindergarten of Baegun Elementary School on Dongnip-ro in Nam-gu with 10,802 cases; and the school zone at Momo Kindergarten on Cheomdan Jungang-ro in Gwangsan-gu with 9,441 cases.
In South Jeolla Province, the location with the highest number of speeding violations was the school zone at Seungju Elementary School in Seungju-eup, Suncheon, with 15,040 cases. This was followed by Maejeong-ri in Iyahng-myeon, Hwasun-gun (13,759 cases); the end section of Gwayok Intersection in Docheon-ri, Gwayok-myeon, Goheung-gun (13,710 cases); the school zone at Dongsan Elementary School in Seomyeon, Suncheon (12,537 cases); and the school zone at Bongrae Elementary School in Bongrae-myeon, Goheung (9,922 cases).
Among the top five locations in both Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, school zones accounted for four and three spots, respectively. Ironically, these areas, where the speed limit is set at 30 km/h to ensure children's safety on their way to and from school, saw the highest concentration of speeding violations.
The current Road Traffic Act designates areas near elementary schools, kindergartens, and daycare centers as school zones, where vehicles must slow down to 30 km/h or less.
However, the number of violations indicates that spaces intended to protect children are instead turning into blind spots for speeding.
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