A roundabout in central Seoul on March 22, 2023. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of traffic accidents and deaths has declined in the locations where roundabouts have been built, government data showed Monday.
According to data from the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the Korea Transport Institute, there were an average of 2.7 annual traffic accident deaths between 2017 and 2019 at 189 locations where the construction of roundabouts was completed in 2020.
This figure, however, fell by 1.7 or 63 percent to 1 in 2021 when the new roundabouts were completed.
During the same period, the average number of annual traffic accident injuries also fell to 150, down 111 or 42.5 percent.
The number of accidents also declined by 28.8 percent from 159 to 113, proving the efficacy of roundabouts.
Roundabouts not only reduced the number of traffic accidents but also produced a positive impact on the traffic flow.
Before the construction of roundabouts, the average passage time stood at 20.7 seconds. However, after roundabouts were installed, it was shortened by 4.3 seconds or 20.8 percent to 16.4 seconds.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
