Traffic laws to tighten in New Year

School buses are parked on a side road in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on July 31, last year. The image is not relevent to the story. / Korea Times photo by Park Joo-hee

By Kim Jae-heun

Starting 2019, the nation's drivers will face stricter regulations, highlighted by the police's plan to get tougher on drunk-driving.

Elderly drivers or those 75 years old or older will have to renew their driver's licenses every three ― not five ― years, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

In the wake of public outcry, including President Moon Jae-in's own comments, for drunk driving that had been handled leniently despite its fatalities, police decided to lower the legal blood alcohol content limit to 0.03 percent from 0.05 percent.

It is scheduled to take effect from June 25, 2019.

The punishment for driving while inebriated becomes harsher, as well. The new law lists that drunk drivers can be imprisoned for from two years to five years and fined from 10 million won ($8,950) to 20 million won if they are caught more than twice.

The current law imposes a maximum 10 million won or puts drivers in jail for less than three years when they are caught over three times.

The heavier punishment, or the so-called “Yoon Chang-ho Law,” comes after a 22-year-old Korean soldier of the same name was killed by a drunk driver in Busan on Sept. 25. Despite causing the fatality, the drunk driver was sentenced three years in jail and it sparked the nation to urge for tougher regulation on driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drunk drivers behind the wheel will be stripped of their licenses on the second ― not the current third ― occurrence. The disqualification period for drunk driving and killing a person will increase to five years.

Tougher screening for senior drivers over 75 comes in the wake of the increasing rate of car accidents and the death toll.

From 2012 to 2017, car accidents caused by people aged between 75 and 79 increased by an average 14.3 percent per year. The death toll also increased by an average 4.4 percent annually.

The rate was even higher for drivers over 80 years old with an average 18.5 percent increase annually, and the death toll at an average 16.8 percent.

Senior citizens have to take a two-hour educational program about traffic safety too. The program includes a cognitive ability test to check driver's memory and attention necessary for safe driving.

Drivers suspected of suffering from Alzheimer's disease will have to take a special inspection to be allowed to drive.

Elderly drivers who return their licenses on their own will be provided with benefits including public transportation fee support from local governments, according to the police.

School buses for children are also affected. The new law enforces all school buses to adopt safety features starting April 17, to prevent drivers from leaving children unnoticed in the bus.

A four-year-old girl was found dead due to suffocation in July after she was locked in. The driver had no idea the girl had been left alone in the bus as she was sleeping in the back seat.

The incident urged the National Assembly to pass the bill, making it mandatory for all school buses across the country to install a device noting the driver and parents that their child has gotten off the bus safely.

A fine of up to 200,000 won will be imposed for not installing the device.