A middle school student died while riding the popular 'fixie bicycle' among teenagers, prompting police to strengthen enforcement.
According to police on the 17th, middle school student A was riding a fixie bicycle down a hill on a back road in Seoul on the 12th of last month when he failed to reduce speed and collided with an air conditioning outdoor unit, resulting in his death. The fixie bicycle operates with just one gear, without a transmission or brakes. Originally designed for racing, it has recently become popular among middle and high school students, as well as upper-grade elementary school students.
In response, the Korean National Police Agency noted, "We will educate and enforce violations of the duty of safe driving related to fixie bicycle road riding," and announced plans to actively apply current road traffic laws.
The police initially reviewed the law and determined that fixie bicycles fall under the category of vehicles. In this case, the regulations of the Road Traffic Act, which require precise control of braking devices, can be applied.
Until now, fixie bicycles had not been classified as a car or a moped, and due to the absence of brakes, they were not categorized as bicycles either, leaving them in a 'legal gray area.' While the Road Traffic Act has provisions banning the operation of bikes that could pose a risk to pedestrians, there was confusion about enforcement regarding fixie bicycles since they were not classified as bicycles.
With the start of the school year, the Korean National Police Agency plans to deploy traffic police officers intensively around the areas where middle and high school students travel to and from school to educate and enforce regulations on fixie bicycles. Additionally, on weekends and holidays, they will focus enforcement activities on fixie bicycle riding, particularly along bicycle paths.
Typically, violations of the duty of safe driving are subject to immediate judgment requests, but for children and teenagers under 18 riding fixie bicycles, the police plan to notify parents and issue warnings. If parents do not take appropriate actions after multiple warnings, guardians can also face penalties under the Child Welfare Act for neglecting child abuse obligations.
In the past three years, bicycle traffic accidents for those under 18 have been on the rise. Among the 5,571 total bicycle traffic accidents last year, 1,461 cases (26.2%) involved individuals under 18. This proportion has increased compared to 940 cases (18.3%) in 2023 and 1,044 cases (19.4%) in 2022.
Han Chang-hoon, director of the Korean National Police Agency's Traffic Safety Division, stated, "Fixie bicycles are extremely dangerous and require active enforcement," adding, "The active cooperation of parents and schools is essential."