Child traffic accidents in school zones have increased by over 76% in just one year. The government plans to inspect 93 high-risk areas nationwide and initiate improvements at more than 500 facilities.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on September 13 that it will enhance traffic safety measures based on the results of joint inspections conducted in areas with frequent accidents involving children.
Last year, there were 927 child traffic accidents in school zones, a significant rise of 401 incidents from 526 the previous year, marking a 76.2% increase. The number of accident-prone areas also surged from 36 to 93, nearly a 2.6-fold increase during the same period.
In response, the Ministry, along with the Ministry of Education, the National Police Agency, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority, conducted focused inspections of the 93 high-risk areas from June 29 to July 31. The scope of inspections was significantly expanded compared to the previous year, allowing for a thorough examination of accident causes and the road and pedestrian environment.
The inspections identified a total of 508 areas needing improvement, categorized into three main areas: road environment enhancements, reinforcement of traffic safety facilities, and driver safety measures.
Stop signs will be installed at crosswalks without traffic lights, and pedestrian protection barriers will be reinforced. Road markings in school zones will be updated, and additional signage will be added where necessary.
Plans are also underway to install raised crosswalks in areas where vehicles need to slow down. Enforcement will be strengthened in areas where illegal parking obstructs the view of children and drivers.
The Ministry will communicate the identified risks and improvement tasks to local governments and relevant agencies, ensuring ongoing management to facilitate actual facility improvements. Additional inspections will be conducted in other high-risk school zones.
Park Hyung-bae, head of the Safety Prevention Policy Office at the Ministry, stated, “We will carefully examine and improve the risk factors in school zones to ensure they function as safe spaces for children, as originally intended.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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