’Mini rest areas’ to be built on highways

By Lee Hyo-sik

The Korea Highway Corp. said Tuesday that it will spend 74 billion won ($70 million) to construct 164 “mini rest areas” on the nation’s highways through 2013, giving motorists a space to rest and reduce traffic accidents caused by drowsy driving.

The small-sized rest stops are aimed to avert accidents caused by broken-down vehicles or those making emergency stops on the side of the road.

The country’s expressway operator plans to set up the first 15 mini service stations between existing rest areas on the Kyungbu (Seoul-Busan) Expressway in September.

There are currently a total of 168 service areas on 27 expressways. The mini stops will accommodate up to 10 vehicles at a time. They will also be equipped with bathrooms, picnic benches, and vending machines selling snacks and beverages.

“We will build 164 small-sized rest areas on the highways over the next two years to reduce the distance between service stops so that drivers can more easily take a break in a secure location when they feel tired. It will help reduce traffic accidents resulting from sleep deprivation or fatigue,” an official at the Korea Highway Corp. said.

He went on to say that many drivers will not have to make an emergency stop on the side of the road, which has been the main cause of accidents, if there are more rest areas.

“Currently, the distance between expressway service areas averages 25 kilometers. The distance will likely be shortened to 15 kilometers when all 164 small-sized service stops are in operation. It will greatly help lower fatal traffic accidents,” the official stressed.

As of July this year, a total of 141 drivers and passengers died on the highway. Of the 141, 56 lost their lives in traffic accidents caused by either drowsy driving or involving vehicles parked on the side of the road.