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By Chah Kyoung-won
Motorists will face crackdown on illegal parking or stopping in school zones across Seoul for one month from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, the Seoul municipal government said Tuesday.
A spokesman said that the city has formed a special team with officials from lower administrative unit, gu, and police to control traffic violations of drivers in 1,861 school zones, including 588 elementary schools, 865 nursery schools and 361 childcare centers.
But the illegal parking will not be checked on weekends and holiday and night hours for nearby residents who have little parking space.
In another attempt to reduce traffic accidents to children nationwide, the central government will double the fines on illegal parking in school zones to 80,000 won in October. This is part of the regulations under revision by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security for heavier penalties on traffic violators in children protection zones across the country.
“A growing number of traffic accidents have happened in school zones largely caused by illegal stopping or parking which blocks views of other drivers,” said Shin Jung-ki, a city official in charge of parking affairs.
The number of child casualties in Seoul school zones increased from 47 in 2006 to 67 in 2008, according to statistics available from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
In particular, as many as 92.7 percent of the total 535 traffic accidents, which took place in school zones throughout the nation last year, were caused by drivers who violated the transportation law, such as stopping or parking there.
During the first half of this year, the city also caught a total of 76,524 vehicles parking in school zones, towing them or tucking parking tickets under windshield wipers.
“Drivers will have to be determined not to park or stand their cars in school zones for the safety of children,” Shin added.
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