Compared to other advanced countries, our country still has a high number of traffic accidents and deaths.


Of course, unlike in the past when the number of annual traffic accident deaths exceeded 10,000, the current number is around 2,600 to 2,700 per year.

However, it is still a high level compared to advanced countries, and the number of child deaths is still high.

While the number of traffic accident deaths in Korea is decreasing every year, the number of accidents and deaths involving elderly drivers is rapidly increasing.

Traffic accidents involving the elderly increase by about 20% every year.

In particular, starting this year, we are entering a super-aging society where more than 20% of the population is over 65 years old, and traffic accidents and various other social issues are emerging.

The recent move by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the competent department, to strengthen standards for elderly transport workers and establish itself as an advanced model based on safety is very appropriate.

Trucks, buses, and taxis, among others, have many problems in many aspects and can be said to have provided an opportunity to substantially strengthen a system that was ineffective.

This is a natural institutional supplement. Now, it has been expanded to cover the entire area.It should be expanded to cover all drivers.

Nowadays, accidents involving elderly drivers are occurring almost every day, which is increasing social anxiety.

Of course, the voluntary driver's license surrender system that has already been introduced, the shortened aptitude test period, dementia testing, and safety education have not yet had much of an effect, and are thus limited in reducing the current number of accidents involving the elderly.

You should also consider returning your driver's license to a custom-made specialist.

Since elderly drivers in rural areas such as towns, counties, and districts are almost non-existent and are required to drive in emergencies, we need to consider ways to support them by focusing on sustainability rather than on one-time transportation card issuance.

In addition, in cases where relatively elderly people aim to maintain national licenses and qualifications, we should consider a customized specialist return system that issues non-driving driver's licenses and finds the practical effect of return.

Since the current dementia test is ineffective, it is expected that it will be effective if we give authority and anonymity to the diagnosing doctor and establish a method for objective judgment.

In particular, since the health status of all citizens is entered into the computer system under the National Health Insurance System, we should actively consider ways to fundamentally block people with diseases that make it impossible to drive, such as dementia, by linking them to driver's licenses, etc.

Of course, as there are people who are concerned about privacy, a natural blocking system is essential. In addition, proven advanced methods should be introduced and benchmarked in the Korean style.

It would be difficult to introduce a method like New Zealand's that would revoke a driver's license for those over 80 and require them to take a new test every two years, as this would likely face strong public resistance.

In particular, our country has different linesWe must also actively consider the fact that the elderly employment rate is more than three times that of the developed countries, so the sensitivity to mobility rights is high and there is strong public resistance.

We also need to think more about the conclusion of the conditional license that ended in the latter half of last year and the method of introducing it in Korea.

Of course, conditional licenses, such as those banning driving at night or driving in high-speed areas like highways, are likely to have negative side effects if implemented incorrectly, as there is so much public resistance.

Even if it is only 2% of the total road network, such as highways, it is a real artery-like network, so we must recognize that if driving is banned, driving itself becomes meaningless.

The point is that it's not just 2%.

We also need to consider what kind of conditional licensing system will be implemented and how to objectively differentiate and enforce it for high-risk groups.

Japan's system is our most preferred benchmark.

This is because they entered an aging society about 20 years ahead of us and have implemented many methods that are effective in advance.

It is said that the driver's license return system was also brought from Japan.

The best way is to introduce a pedal misoperation prevention device.

The focus is on fundamentally reducing accidents involving older drivers through cutting-edge devices rather than high-impact methods such as conditional licenses.

The pedal misoperation prevention device is a device that prevents the vehicle from moving if the driver mistakenly steps on the accelerator pedal while judging it as the brake pedal when there is an object in front or behind the vehicle, and also notifies the driver on the instrument panel.

About 10 years ago, Japan began installing this device in existing elderly vehicles for aftermarket use, and currently, more than 80% of all vehicles are equipped with this device.

The cost is also about the same as the installation cost in local governments.It can be said that this device maximizes the effect without burdening the consumer with costs by supporting about half of the cost.

Currently, the installation of this device has proven to be remarkably effective in reducing overall elderly accidents by more than 40%.

In response to its effectiveness, the Japanese government has decided to make it mandatory for all new vehicles to be equipped with the device by the year after next, and is even explaining the effectiveness of this device to the international community and persuading the global market to make it mandatory.

Since the latter half of last year, I have been actively suggesting the usefulness of this device in columns, broadcasts, and at related conferences, and am currently considering establishing it in Korea as well.

However, this does not mean that the device will be released right away. Therefore, it is believed that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should step forward and form a committee that includes manufacturers, small and medium-sized companies, and experts to provide a starting point for resolving various issues, including information sharing among manufacturers, and that the device should be quickly certified and installed in existing vehicles for the elderly.

It would be natural to apply it to new vehicles, but since many of the existing elderly vehicles are old models and are driven to a minimum, it is judged that an aftermarket product to be installed on existing elderly vehicles is absolutely necessary.

If it is only applied to new cars, the effect of installation will only begin to appear after 10 years, as accidents with existing cars will continue to occur.

It can be said that this is a time when a Korean model needs to be established by combining various methods that can be introduced in a Korean style, including the above method.

Since each method has slightly different effects, rather than just one or two methods, an integrated approach is essential, and I hope that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will quickly announce a comprehensive plan.

Accidents involving elderly drivers are still occurring and social concerns are increasing. It is believed that it is time for the government to take proactive steps to come up with comprehensive measures that can provide peace of mind. We urge the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to come up with comprehensive measures.