By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter

Korean pedestrians' accident rates were the highest among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries, a local research institute said on Monday.

According to the 2007 OECD International Road Traffic and Accident Database announced by Green City Research Institute, 5.28 per 100,000 Korean pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2005, placing the country in first place.

Korea also topped the category in 2004, with 6.0 pedestrians per 100,000.

As for the number of deaths in traffic accidents per 10,000 cars, Korea took second place with 3.45 people, following Hungary with 3.79.

Considering that the OECD member countries' average number of pedestrians' death in traffic accidents marked 1.58 per 100,000 and the number of accidental deaths per 10,000 cars marked 1.68, South Korea has still a long way to go to become an advanced country in terms of traffic safety.

``These tragic accidents have highlighted the dangers pedestrians face on a daily basis and the need to be alert and always cross at signalized intersections. The government's more active and specific measures are required since pedestrians' traffic safety is vital regarding people's welfare,'' said Lim Sam-jin, a professor at Hanyang University and official at the Green City Research Institute.

``In Europe, pedestrians are guaranteed priority rights in streets near residential areas. Also, car speed limits in such areas should be lowered to 20 to 30 kilometers per hour. Our government should launch a project for traffic calming, which is aimed at lowering car speed limits and car circulation near residential areas.''

Indeed, the government showed the worst result in the sector of pedestrians' traffic accidents regarding its five-year plan to improve traffic safety from 2002 to 2006.

The nation saw 2,457 deaths of pedestrians in 2005, about twice the government's original estimate of 1,274.

As for the number of traffic deaths of those over 65 years of age per 100,000, South Korea topped OECD member countries with 38.8 in 2005. As for the corresponding number of children aged under 14, South Korea took fourth place with 3.1 in the same year.

michelle@koreatimes.co.kr