Kakao Mobility introduced key features and customized information for Kakao Navi users for the year-end holiday season on the 23rd, such as enhancing safe driving guidance with real-time signal information and information on road ice formation, as well as recommending travel destinations using big data.
Currently, Kakao Navi provides the 'real-time signal information' service at major intersections in local governments including Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju. It is the only service offering this in more than 10 regions, including most special and metropolitan cities.
The 'real-time signal information service' helps ensure safe driving at intersections with high accident risks by informing users about vehicle signal statuses such as green, red, yellow, left turn, and the time remaining, as well as the green pedestrian signal at crosswalks when making right turns. Notably, as of the 11th, Gangneung was the first local government to establish an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that allows users to check the signal information of all intersections in the area through Kakao Navi.
Additionally, from the 2nd, the regions for the 'road hazard weather information' provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration have also been expanded. Following the Jungbu Inland Line and the West Coast Line, 'road ice formation possibility information' and 'road visibility hazard information' are now being provided on busy roads including the Gyeongbu Line, Jungang Line, Honam Line, Yeongdong Line, and Tongyeong-Daejeon Inland Line. Furthermore, information on freezing vulnerable sections nationwide such as mountain roads, steep slopes, bridges, and overpasses has been obtained from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, providing users with information on 3,112 locations.
Through this, Kakao Navi expects to contribute to safe winter driving and accident prevention. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, there have been about 3,900 road freezing accidents in the past five years, and the fatality rate for freezing traffic accidents is 1.7 times higher than that of general traffic accidents.
On the 9th, Kakao Navi also strengthened its safe driving information guidance by applying a feature in the 'safe driving' mode, used without setting a destination, that informs average speed and remaining time for section speed limits, making it the first in the mobile navigation industry.
In addition, in celebration of the year-end holiday season, a new category called 'Trending at Year-End' has been established in the destination ranking service 'Yojumtteuneun' utilizing driving big data, providing drivers with the joy of discovering tailored winter locations. This category presents popular destinations from December to January over the past three years, offering information on recommended travel spots with a Christmas atmosphere in Europe, Santa festivals, and places frequently visited by locals, helping users to plan efficient trips.
Lee Seung-won, Head of Team at Kakao Mobility's Navi Service, noted, 'With increased travel volume and the risk of accidents heightening due to cold waves during the year-end holidays, providing safe driving information through navigation becomes even more crucial,' and added, 'Kakao Navi will continue to enhance real-time road information for safe driving, including areas with flood warnings, real-time highway work information, and stopped vehicle guidance, aiming to assist users in traveling safely and conveniently to their destinations in the future.'