Bus crash deaths rise 55% above usual in fall; police target large vehicles in crackdown

[Financial News] Bus traffic accident deaths in October and November, when vehicles crowd the roads for fall foliage outings, were found to be at least 50% higher than usual. Police will launch a roughly two-month crackdown focused on large buses, trucks and expressways.
The National Police Agency said on the 7th that it would implement its “Traffic Safety Measures for the Fall Outing Season” from the 8th through the 30th of next month.
An analysis by the National Police Agency of traffic accident statistics from the past five years found that traffic accident deaths involving buses and trucks, as well as expressway traffic accident deaths, increased in October and November compared with other periods.
Deaths in traffic accidents involving intercity, express and charter buses averaged 2.4 people per month under normal conditions, rising to 3.7 in October and November, an increase of 55.2%. Truck traffic accident deaths also rose 20%, from 51.5 to 61.8. Expressway traffic accident deaths increased 29.3%, from 15.6 to 20.1.
Police will first step up enforcement on expressways, using unmarked patrol cars and other means to crack down on reckless and retaliatory driving and violations of designated lanes. They will also closely check tour buses for convoy driving, travel on the shoulder, drinking, singing and dancing inside the vehicle, and failure to wear seatbelts.
For trucks, police plan to work with relevant agencies to step up enforcement and investigations into the unauthorized disabling of speed limiters, overloading, speeding and poor vehicle maintenance.
At tour bus departure points and elsewhere, police will conduct activities to prohibit drinking, singing and dancing inside vehicles, promote seatbelt use and prevent drunk driving. They will carry out round-the-clock enforcement, day and night, in areas where drunk driving is a concern, including restaurant and nightlife districts near fall foliage spots and tourist destinations.
A National Police Agency official urged people to “follow basic traffic safety rules, including wearing seatbelts in every seat, taking sufficient rest to prevent drowsy driving, and not driving under the influence.”


[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter