"You are getting farther away~" "We shouldn't love each other~"
A famous YouTuber is singing. This is not a karaoke room, but right in the middle of the Gyeonggi-do Expressway. The electronic sign on the road displays a message stating, 'No using mobile phones while driving.' However, he continues his live broadcast, looking at his phone screen without caring. He also interacts with viewers in real-time, responding to comments like, "When was your first kiss?" This happened in October 2023.
With the advent of the personal media era, 'driving live broadcasts' have established themselves as a form of content among YouTubers. This involves live streaming while securing a mobile phone to a car or motorcycle, broadcasting driving conditions, or reading comments to have conversations with viewers. However, this behavior poses a risk of violating traffic laws and is considered dangerous, potentially leading to traffic accidents.
◇Using a mobile phone while driving and installing video devices is prohibited
According to traffic laws, drivers cannot use mobile phones unless stopped. It's also not allowed to place devices displaying video in a position where the driver can see them unless intended for navigation purposes. Thus, using a mobile phone mounted in a holder for live broadcasting or checking comments while interacting with viewers can result in penalties.
There are actual cases of penalties. A YouTuber who works as a ready-mixed concrete truck driver was caught by the police during a live broadcast in September 2023. He remarked, "I didn't know that live broadcasting while driving was prohibited," and added subtitles like, "I was worried whether I hit a pedestrian in the dark, but thankfully I didn't."
◇Lack of awareness of seriousness… Low penalties and difficulty in enforcement
Even when enforcement occurs, live broadcast videos while driving are still being uploaded to YouTube. A motorcycle driving YouTuber with 300,000 subscribers conducted a live broadcast in April this year, explaining the screen situation in real-time while saying, "The broadcast is expected to cut out (buffer)." A taxi YouTuber was also seen waving at the camera or mumbling to himself while looking at the camera and using one hand to operate his smartphone to accept calls during the ride on the 23rd.
The penalties for such actions are relatively low. If caught using a mobile phone or video device while driving, fines of 60,000 won for cars, 70,000 won for vans, and 40,000 won for motorcycles are imposed, along with 15 points deducted.
Enforcement is also challenging. Most vehicle windows are tinted dark, making it difficult for police to check if a mobile phone is being used from outside. Moreover, it's hard to distinguish whether the mobile phone is being used for navigation or for YouTube broadcasting. One police officer noted, "Only if I directly witness the driver watching a video can I enforce penalties, but stopping a moving vehicle to check is practically difficult."
◇Using smartphones is more dangerous than drinking… Risks of greater liability in accidents
Using a smartphone while driving not only violates regulations but can also lead to serious accidents. According to the Samsung Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute, manipulating a smartphone while driving at 40 km/h increases the stopping distance to 45.2 meters in sudden situations. This is 2.4 times longer than that of a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% (18.6 meters). In 2016, a BJ caused an accident while driving a Porsche at 200 km/h during a live broadcast, resulting in the car being destroyed.
Experts point out that live broadcasting while driving can lead to greater liablility in case of an accident. Professor Choi Jae-won from the Korea Road Traffic Authority stated, "If the driver violates the duty of safe driving due to lack of attention to the road ahead, their responsibility may be judged heavier than in a typical accident."
Voices are also rising for measures beyond simple on-site enforcement to ensure post-incident actions. Professor Choi suggested, "The police could utilize live broadcast videos or filming materials as evidence for enforcement and consider expanding the monitoring personnel to establish a more consistent surveillance system."