Gyeonggi Province and Police Join Forces to Tackle Winter 'Black Ice'... Launching Cooperative Response System

The Province to Accelerate Snow Removal Through Inspection of Snow Removal Boxes and Sharing of Vulnerable Area Information
Gyeonggi Province to Establish "Black Ice Analysis System" by 2026
Predicting Icy Road Sections... Supporting Local Governments' Snow Removal and Police On-Site Control

Gyeonggi Province is partnering with the Gyeonggi Nambu and Bukbu Provincial Police Agencies to respond to 'black ice,' known as the silent killer on winter roads, and sudden heavy snowfall.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On January 16, Gyeonggi Province announced that it will implement a "preemptive, prevention-focused safety road" initiative by sharing real-time information and collaborating with the police, who are known for their strong on-site mobility.

The police plan to conduct frequent patrols to monitor road surface conditions and identify areas vulnerable to snow and ice in real time. This information will be shared with Gyeonggi Province and each city and county, prompting immediate snow removal operations.

Additionally, the province plans to establish a "black ice analysis system" by 2026 for proactive and scientific response to road icing. The system will share icing risk information, analyzed through road surface temperature predictions, with cities, counties, and the police. Based on this data, local governments will preemptively spread de-icing agents at locations where icing is expected, while the police will carry out preventive measures such as traffic control or increased patrols in high-risk accident zones.

To shorten response times during emergencies, a streamlined communication channel will be operated. The province also plans to spread de-icing agents on village roads and back roads, which are often overlooked in snow removal efforts.

Pyo Myunggyu, Director of Road Safety at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Cooperation with the police, who can assess on-site conditions most quickly, is the key to protecting residents' lives," adding, "We will do our utmost to build a robust safety network with the police and make Gyeonggi Province free of winter road accidents."