By Lee Hyo-sik
The government plans to revoke the driving licenses of motorists who are found to exceed a speed limit by over 60 kilometers an hour from as early as next year as part of efforts to reduce the number of traffic deaths.
Rules against drunk driving will also be strengthened as the legally-allowed blood-alcohol concentration will be lowered to 0.03 percent from the current 0.05 percent.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs held a public hearing Thursday, announcing tighter traffic regulations aimed at cutting the number of traffic accidents by 40 percent by 2016.
Last year, there were about 5,500 human causalities here resulting from traffic accidents. The number of traffic deaths per 10,000 cars was 2.86, significantly higher than the OECD average of 1.25.
“The government has set a goal to reduce the number of traffic deaths to as low as 3,000 by 2016. We held a public hearing for citizens and other interested parties to gather various opinions on our measures. We plan to finalize them by year’s end,” a ministry official said.
First, drivers exceeding a speed limit by over 40 kilometers an hour will be slapped with fines which are twice as much as the current amounts. For those driving passenger vehicles, they are now charged 90,000 won ($80). But the government plans to increase the amount to 180,000 won.
If motorists operate vehicles at a speed surpassing the legal limit by over 60 kilometers an hour, their drivers’ license will be revoked.
Additionally, the legally-allowed blood-alcohol concentration will drop to 0.03 percent from the current 0.05 percent. It means that a motorist whose blood alcohol content is measured at 0.04 percent, he or she is not ruled intoxicated under the current standard. But under the stricter rules, the driver will be found legally drunk and charged for driving while intoxicated.
The ministry also plans to develop a device that can stop motorists from starting a car if they are intoxicated.
“We will also expand a 30-kilometer-per-hour zone in residential areas to help reduce traffic accidents. Lightings on crosswalks will be improved to enable motorists to better spot pedestrians crossing the street,” the ministry official said.
He said automobile insurance premiums will be adjusted by whether motorists were involved in accidents or not and what types of safety devices are installed in vehicles.
Taxies and buses will also be required to be equipped with devices preventing them from driving above a certain speed. The number of driving hours will be set for taxi and bus operators to better ensure passenger safety, he outlined.