Electric scooters, legally equivalent to motorized bicycles, are banned from pedestrian roads or crosswalks. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 13 (Korea Bizwire) — The growing ubiquity of personal mobility vehicles, such as electric scooters, electric wheels, and electric bicycles, is leading to a higher number of traffic accidents.
The Road Traffic Authority’s Traffic Accident Analysis System reported 447 cases of traffic accidents involving personal mobility vehicles, resulting in eight fatalities and 473 reports of injury.
Major accident causes were traffic light violations (42 cases), center line violations (28 cases), and crossroad violations (24 cases).
Accidents involving personal mobility vehicles continue to rise from 117 cases in 2017, 225 cases in 2018, and 447 cases in 2019.
Electric scooters, legally equivalent to motorized bicycles, are banned from pedestrian roads or crosswalks. Wearing helmets and other protective equipment is mandatory.
However, Koreans continue to flout these rules as they ride electric wheels and scooters without following the most basic rules, which calls for the need to bolster safety education and regulations for personal mobility vehicles.
“While accidents involving personal mobility vehicles continue to increase, related regulations continue to weaken,” said a source from the North Chungcheong Citizen’s Coalition for Participatory Autonomy.
“Local authorities should enact relevant ordinances to ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians.”
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
