Safety Certification for Pedal Misapplication Prevention Devices to Begin in September; Installation Costs to Be Subsidized Next Year

[Financial News] Safety certification for tuning-type pedal misapplication prevention devices will begin in early September to reduce accidents caused by older drivers and others mistakenly pressing the accelerator or brake. The government is also pushing a plan to subsidize the purchase and installation costs of certified devices starting in 2027.
According to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) on the 28th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and TS plan to expand the use of certified products by verifying the performance and reliability of tuning-type pedal misapplication prevention devices sold in the market. The devices are safety systems designed to control sudden acceleration or abrupt starts that can occur when a driver confuses the brake and accelerator pedals.
The safety evaluation will check whether the device properly controls unintended sudden acceleration. It will also assess items that affect driving safety and convenience, including misoperation prevention performance and compatibility with existing vehicle signal systems.
Since January, the ministry and TS have operated a consultative body involving the Automotive Policy Division, TS's Testing and Certification Office, the Sangju Traffic Safety Experience Center, and device manufacturers to establish safety verification standards and certification procedures. The authorities plan to manage the supply of products that pass those standards into the market.
In addition to the certification system, cost support for wider adoption of the devices is also being pursued. The ministry and TS plan to provide subsidies for device purchase budgets and installation costs starting in 2027.
To that end, they will also establish a legal basis that would allow partial or full support for tuning costs for vehicle owners who install safety-focused modifications such as pedal misapplication prevention devices.
Yong-Sik Jung, Chairman of TS, said, "Safety certification for pedal misapplication prevention devices is an important system that creates a vehicle operation environment people can use with confidence." He added, "Together with the ministry, TS will do its utmost to ensure that reliable products are introduced to the market through strict safety evaluations and certification."
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter