South Korea Expands 'Time-Based Speed Limits' in School Zones

South Korea's National Police Agency is expanding its 'time-based speed limit' policy in school zones, a move designed to adjust speed restrictions based on pedestrian activity. Under the revised guidelines, eligible school zones will see their speed limits increase from the standard 30 km/h to the adjacent road's limit of 40-50 km/h during late-night hours, specifically between midnight and 6 a.m.

This policy shift acknowledges that the uniform 30 km/h speed limit, previously applied 24/7, was considered excessive during times of minimal pedestrian traffic. A pilot program for time-based speed limits was initiated in September 2023, and as of April this year, 84 out of 15,856 school zones nationwide had adopted the measure. The expansion is based on accident statistics, research from the Korea Road Traffic Authority, and feedback from local authorities and police.

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The intention is to rationalize excessive regulations only during times when children are not present.

Official data indicates a significant reduction in child pedestrian fatalities within school zones, with only one such death reported last year compared to eight a decade prior. Notably, there have been no child pedestrian accidents during late-night hours in school zones over the past five years. A survey conducted in April also showed that 76.4% of 500 respondents supported the introduction of the time-based speed limit policy.

To qualify for the time-based speed limit, school zones must meet specific criteria, including having at least one lane in each direction, pedestrian safety facilities installed throughout the entire zone, and fewer than two child pedestrian accidents in the last three years. The police agency estimates that approximately one-third of all school zones, around 6,000 locations, meet these requirements. While the police emphasize that the policy aims to rationalize excessive regulations during non-pedestrian hours and will be implemented gradually based on local traffic conditions, some concerns persist about potentially compromising child safety for driver convenience.

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We will proceed sequentially, considering the local traffic conditions.