The government will establish a weather information observation network on 31 highways nationwide by 2026 to prevent freezing traffic accidents. It plans to provide information to drivers in real-time about the potential for road freezing in coordination with navigation companies.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced 'Analysis of Causes of Freezing Traffic Accidents in Winter and Measures to Prevent Human Injuries' in collaboration with relevant agencies.
The measures announced by the government that day are in response to the continued occurrence of human casualties due to recent freezing traffic accidents. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, 3,944 freezing traffic accidents occurred between 2019 and 2023, resulting in 95 deaths and injuring 6,589 others.
The fatality rate for freezing traffic accidents is 2.4, which is higher compared to general traffic accidents (1.4). The average damage amount per case is 4.32 million won, which is 1.8 times higher than that of general traffic accidents (2.42 million won).
The government identified the lack of systems that allow drivers to recognize freezing risks in advance as a cause of freezing traffic accidents. While there are some criteria for assessing the risk index of freezing accidents in highway designs, there are no separate regulations for national and local roads. Currently, a weather observation network operates on 7 highways and at 259 locations, but there are no installation plans for national or privately operated highways.
Accordingly, the government plans to expand the road weather observation network on 31 highway routes nationwide by 2026. Specifically, it will establish 107 new sites on 5 routes this year and add another 103 sites on 19 routes next year.
Information about roads where freezing accidents occurred will also be provided to drivers. This will be conducted in collaboration with navigation companies frequently used by drivers, such as T map and Kakao.
The government will also improve the installation and operation of speed enforcement cameras to prevent freezing accidents. It plans to gradually expand the installation of variable speed enforcement systems in key bridge sections vulnerable to freezing. Currently, enforcement is taking place on the Yeongjong Bridge, and the Seohae Bridge will also be included in the enforcement targets along with other special bridges.
In addition, it will promote the development of technologies to prevent freezing traffic accidents. The plan is to develop road paving technologies that can delay freezing and apply them to vulnerable tunnels and bridges. It will also develop domestic road weather observation equipment suitable for Korea's climate and variable enforcement equipment, such as cameras that automatically change speed enforcement speeds based on weather conditions.
Lee Han-gyeong, head of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "Traffic accidents caused by freezing have a high potential to lead to human injury," and "We will thoroughly implement the government measures established this time in cooperation with relevant agencies."