South Korean lawmakers are pushing for stricter regulations on the use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as electric scooters and kickboards. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul police announced on Tuesday that they will carry out an unannounced, citywide crackdown on traffic violations by motorbikes, bicycles and personal mobility devices such as electric scooters, amid rising safety concerns and a surge in related accidents.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it will deploy 354 officers from 31 district stations, along with traffic patrol and rapid-response units, to conduct simultaneous enforcement operations in areas with frequent complaints and high accident rates, including school zones.
To prevent drivers from fleeing, authorities plan to station 48 motorcycle patrol units in districts with especially high accident numbers, such as Gangnam, Dongdaemun, Songpa and Gwanak.
The crackdown will focus on major violations, including riding on sidewalks, running red lights, crossing center lines, drunk driving, and carrying multiple passengers on scooters and other personal mobility devices.
Police data show that motorbike-related deaths in Seoul fell to 22 between January and October this year, down from 33 during the same period last year. But officials warned that the trend may reverse after four fatal crashes occurred in October alone.
Recent high-profile cases — such as a woman left in critical condition after being struck by two unlicensed middle school students riding an electric scooter in Incheon — have intensified public alarm over reckless scooter use.
The enforcement action comes as Seoul police roll out their “Traffic Redesign Project,” a broader initiative launched this month to overhaul road safety in the capital.
Officials said the heightened enforcement will continue alongside safety campaigns conducted jointly with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
“We want to send a clear message that dangerous and disorderly behavior on the roads will not be tolerated,” a police official said. “We ask for citizens’ cooperation in building a safer traffic culture.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
