The Korea Transportation Safety Authority announced on November 23 that, in collaboration with the National Police Agency and the General Insurance Association of Korea, it will launch a program to distribute pedal misoperation prevention devices free of charge to 730 elderly drivers in seven regions, including Seoul and major metropolitan areas nationwide. This initiative aims to reduce accidents commonly referred to as "sudden unintended acceleration," which in fact occur when drivers unintentionally press the accelerator pedal.
The three organizations previously signed an agreement in November last year and carried out the first phase of the free distribution program in April this year. In a three-month pilot project involving 141 participants, there were a total of 71 recorded cases suspected to be due to pedal misoperation caused by abnormal acceleration. This indicates that the device had a preventive effect. Abnormal acceleration is defined as pressing the accelerator pedal more than 80% (based on APS value) while driving forward or backward at speeds below 15 km/h, or when the engine's revolutions per minute (RPM) reach 4,500 due to sudden acceleration while driving.
At around 10:55 a.m. on the 13th, a truck driving through Jeil Market in Wonjong-dong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, crashed onto the sidewalk, resulting in three pedestrians being found in cardiac arrest. A total of 21 people, including nine seriously injured individuals, were transported to the hospital by the 119 emergency medical service. The photo shows the accident scene. Provided by Bucheon Fire Station. Photo by Yonhap News.
The Authority, the National Police Agency, and the General Insurance Association of Korea plan to expand the distribution program to more regions and recipients, starting from December 1. Applicants can submit the required documents, such as the application form, driver's license, and vehicle registration certificate, to their local Korea Transportation Safety Authority branch from December 1 to December 19.
Jung Yongsik, President of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, stated, "We expect this initiative to help elderly drivers drive safely and protect the precious lives and safety of our citizens. Moving forward, the Authority will continue to create a safe and happy transportation environment by utilizing advanced safety devices as a reliable mobility partner for everyone's daily life."
Yoo Jaeseong, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, said, "Ensuring safe mobility rights is essential for the traffic safety of the elderly. We will work to raise awareness of various measures to prevent sudden acceleration accidents and implement policies to ensure traffic safety for the elderly."
A demonstration of installing a pedal misoperation prevention device as part of a pilot project by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. When the device is installed, it signals with a red light and sound in case of pedal misoperation. Provided by Korea Transportation Safety Authority
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