"Voluntary License Surrender Is Not Enough... Urgent Alternatives Needed"
Proposal for Government Support of Pedal Misoperation Prevention Device Installation Costs
On September 22, the Jeonnam Provincial Council announced that it had adopted a proposal to mandate the installation of pedal misoperation prevention devices for elderly drivers and to urge the government to provide financial support for the installation costs, in order to prevent traffic accidents involving elderly drivers.
At the 5th plenary session of the 393rd extraordinary meeting held on September 19, the council passed the original proposal titled "Mandatory Installation and Support Promotion of Pedal Misoperation Prevention Devices for Elderly Drivers," which was sponsored by Assemblyman Lim Hyungseok (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangyang 1).
Jeonnam Provincial Council passed the original proposal of the "Mandatory Installation and Support Promotion for Pedal Misoperation Prevention Devices for Elderly Drivers," which was introduced by Representative Lim Hyungseok. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Council
The proposal calls on the government and the National Assembly to implement the following measures to reduce accidents caused by pedal misoperation among elderly drivers: mandatory installation of prevention devices, government support for installation costs, and the establishment of comprehensive traffic safety measures.
According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority's Traffic Accident Analysis System, the proportion of traffic fatalities involving elderly drivers has continued to rise, from 23% (720 deaths) in 2020 to 30.2% (761 deaths) in 2024.
The council stated, "As the aging population accelerates, accidents involving elderly drivers are also rapidly increasing. However, existing policies such as voluntary surrender of driver's licenses have their limitations. There is an urgent need to introduce advanced driver assistance systems."
The council also pointed out, "Pedal misoperation prevention devices have been adopted as international safety standards and their effectiveness in preventing accidents has been proven. Although a related bill has been submitted to the National Assembly, the government remains cautious, citing the conditional licensing system and financial burden as reasons."
In particular, the council emphasized, "In areas like Jeonnam, where access to public transportation is limited, a conditional licensing system could significantly restrict the livelihoods and daily lives of elderly residents. The government should design policies that enhance safety by utilizing advanced driver assistance technologies."
Assemblyman Lim stated, "Recently, in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, a tragic accident occurred when a driver in his 80s crashed into a residential yard, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old child. The government must quickly implement support for technologies such as prevention devices or automatic braking systems to ensure that elderly drivers can drive safely."
Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Provincial Council delivered the adopted proposal to relevant organizations, including the Office of the President, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Police Agency.
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