78% of elderly pedestrian accident hotspots are near traditional markets; police step up safety measures

[Financial News] Roughly eight in 10 areas where traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians occur frequently are located near traditional markets, according to findings. Police are working to prevent accidents by improving traffic facilities around traditional markets and expanding safety education for older people.
According to the National Police Agency on the 20th, 497 (78%) of the 641 areas with frequent traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians over the three most recent years, from 2023 through last year, were within 400 meters of a traditional market.
Deaths in traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians have also been rising. The number increased for two consecutive years, from 550 in 2023 to 616 in 2024 and 619 last year. Over the same period, the number of traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians also rose, from 10,921 to 11,498. By contrast, all pedestrian traffic accidents fell from 37,324 in 2023 to 35,356 last year, a trend that contrasts with accidents involving elderly pedestrians.
The National Police Agency is working to improve pedestrian environments and provide traffic safety education, focusing on traditional markets frequently visited by older people. Since July, it has selected 29 traditional markets where the risk of traffic accidents is high and facility improvements are urgent, and drawn up improvement plans that include expanding the designation of senior protection zones and adding traffic safety facilities.
In addition, since September, traffic safety education and on-site campaigns for elderly pedestrians have been underway in 10 regions across the country.
That day, the National Police Agency held a campaign to prevent accidents involving elderly pedestrians at Yongin Jungang Market in Gyeonggi Province, together with the Yongin Dongbu Police Precinct, the Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center and organizations involved in traffic safety.
First, it held traffic safety education at the Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center for about 100 people, including older residents from local senior centers, and then inspected pedestrian conditions around the market. Among those attending were Go Pyeong-gi, director of the National Police Agency's Life Safety and Traffic Bureau, and Im Seong-sik, chief of the Yongin Dongbu Police Precinct.
Police also handed out wheeled shopping bags to elderly pedestrians at the event. The bags featured a highly visible design in shades of green so drivers could easily spot pedestrians.
The National Police Agency plans to hold its final campaign in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on the 28th and conclude its traffic safety activities across 10 regions nationwide.
“To prevent traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians, it is important for drivers to exercise particular caution and for older people themselves to follow traffic safety rules,” Director Go said. “We will continue to work closely with relevant agencies to provide traffic safety education and carry out field-based outreach activities, and work to create a traffic environment where older people can walk with peace of mind.”
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter