Supplementing the Limitations of Unidirectional Enforcement
On July 16, Yangcheon District in Seoul (District Mayor Lee Gijae) announced that it will install additional bidirectional signal and speed enforcement cameras at six elementary schools and daycare centers within the district by October this year. This initiative is part of efforts to eliminate traffic safety blind spots and strengthen the protection of vulnerable pedestrians within school zones.
The cameras will be installed at Gangshin Elementary School, Gangseo Elementary School, Gyeongin Elementary School, Seojeong Elementary School, Sinseo Elementary School, and Haebaragi Daycare Center. Until now, these areas were only equipped with unidirectional enforcement cameras. With the new installations, unmanned cameras will be added in the opposite direction, enabling bidirectional enforcement.
Previously, unidirectional enforcement cameras could only monitor vehicles entering from one direction, which created blind spots. The new bidirectional setup will allow monitoring of both incoming and outgoing traffic, significantly reducing these blind spots. As a result, the district expects a substantial improvement in encouraging drivers to reduce speed and in preventing traffic accidents. In some areas, rear-facing cameras will also be introduced, making it possible to enforce regulations on motorcycles that only have rear license plates.
According to an analysis by the Korea Road Traffic Authority, over the past five years, the number of traffic accidents in areas with unmanned enforcement cameras has decreased to 71% of the level before installation. This demonstrates that enforcement cameras are effective devices for increasing driver awareness and preventing accidents in advance.
The installation of unmanned traffic enforcement equipment in school zones has been mandatory since the implementation of the "Minshik Law" in 2020, and Yangcheon District currently operates a total of 45 cameras.
Construction and the establishment of necessary infrastructure, including electrical and communication connections for the new cameras, will take place from July to October this year. After the facilities pass the acceptance inspection by the Korea Road Traffic Authority, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will take over management and begin full-scale operation.
Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, stated, "The purpose of traffic enforcement cameras is not to catch violations, but to encourage drivers to comply with speed regulations and prevent traffic accidents within school zones. We will do our utmost to create a people-centered traffic environment."
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