Four-Wheeled Vehicles Caught Five Times More Than Motorcycles by Rear Monitoring Cameras

Number of Vehicles Caught Surges Each Year, Driven by Equipment Expansion
Originally Intended for Motorcycles, Rear Cameras Catch More Four-Wheeled Vehicles

The number of vehicles caught by rear monitoring cameras, which capture rear license plates to detect traffic violations, has been surging every year. Although these devices were originally introduced to monitor motorcycles, the actual detection rate for four-wheeled vehicles has proven to be much higher.

On October 7, Yonhap News reported, citing statistics released by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, that the number of violations recorded by rear monitoring cameras skyrocketed from 5,576 cases in 2023 to 64,625 cases last year. As of August this year, the figure had already reached 133,310 cases. This represents more than a 20-fold increase over two years.

The police explained that the expansion of monitoring equipment is the main reason for the increase in enforcement results. The National Police Agency began full-scale deployment of rear monitoring devices in 2023 to eradicate traffic violations by motorcycles. In April 2023, one device each was installed in Suwon and Hwaseong for pilot operation. Subsequently, 39 units were added in the same year, 129 units last year, and 79 more this year, bringing the total number of operational devices in southern Gyeonggi Province to 247.

Rear monitoring camera installation view. Provided by Gwacheon City

In addition, in 2024, the police strengthened the unmanned enforcement system by installing equipment that added helmet-wearing detection to existing signal and speeding monitoring functions.

These devices were initially installed to catch traffic violations by motorcycles, which do not have front license plates. However, according to operational data as of August this year, the number of four-wheeled vehicle violations detected reached 109,961-approximately 4.7 times higher than the 23,349 cases involving motorcycles. The police analyzed that "many four-wheeled vehicle drivers mistake rear monitoring cameras for regular enforcement cameras, so they slow down in front of the device but then accelerate rapidly after passing it," adding that "this behavior has contributed to the increase in detected violations."

According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, the proportion of rear camera enforcement among all traffic monitoring cases was only 0.2% in 2023, but had risen to 4.8% as of August this year. The police plan to continue expanding the installation of rear monitoring cameras in the future.

A police official stated, "We plan to strengthen enforcement standards for both motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles to ensure traffic safety," adding, "Through rear monitoring cameras, we will establish a comprehensive traffic enforcement system with no blind spots."