Preparations for the June monsoon season are in full swing. Recent monsoons differ in pattern from those of the past. Due to climate change, localized heavy rainfall has become more frequent, and precipitation volumes are increasing. The problem is that these changes can pose new risks to highway traffic safety.
Driving on wet roads carries a high probability that even a moment's carelessness will lead to an accident. In particular, on highways where vehicles travel at around 100 kilometers per hour, a momentary lapse in judgment is directly linked to loss of life. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, there were 60,647 wet-road traffic accidents in Korea over the past five years. Highway wet-road accidents accounted for only 3.2% of the total, but the fatality rate stood at 4.7 per 100 people, about three times higher than the overall average of 1.7 per 100. Traffic accidents not only cause loss of life but also trigger prolonged congestion, leading to logistics delays and disruptions in industrial production, with significant impact across the economy. Given that traffic safety costs are the most fundamental investment in sustaining society as a whole, the role of the public sector is critical.
Korea Expressway Corporation is rapidly shifting from a post-accident response approach to a prevention-focused management system. To this end, the corporation has conducted safety inspections of drainage facilities, slopes, bridges, and tunnels on highways nationwide, and is preemptively eliminating risks in flood-prone sections through drainage maintenance and facility reinforcement. It also operates a system to promptly provide deceleration warnings and detour information through highway electronic signs, traffic broadcasts, and navigation system linkages in preparation for heavy rainfall. Recently, it has been expanding a smart safety management system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. Through "digital road safety diagnostics" using vehicle-mounted LiDAR equipment, the corporation scientifically analyzes hydroplaning and drainage-vulnerable sections, and uses an AI-based automatic pothole detection system to identify and address risks in advance.
However, even with well-maintained roads, the greatest force in preventing accidents is the safety awareness of individual drivers. The main causes of highway fatalities are currently speeding, failure to maintain safe distance, and drowsy driving. Wet-road accidents are no exception. Road surfaces become slippery and braking distances grow longer. During heavy rainfall, visibility is also compromised. Moreover, if tire condition is poor, hydroplaning can occur, with the vehicle rising as if floating on water and the steering wheel and brakes failing to function properly. In particular, freight trucks may face accidents when making reckless lane changes or sudden braking.
The principles of safe driving during the monsoon season are not complicated. Drivers should reduce their speed by 20 to 50% from normal levels and secure at least double the safety distance. Sudden acceleration and braking should be avoided, and on long-distance trips, attention should be paid to managing drowsiness and fatigue. During heavy rainfall at night or in the early morning hours, taking a break at a rest area or drowsiness shelter is also necessary. Vehicle inspection is equally important. Even basic pre-checks of tire pressure and wear, wipers, and headlights can significantly reduce accidents.
Safety begins with small practices. Basic actions such as reduced speed, yielding, and sufficient rest are the most powerful safety devices for protecting lives. The fact that the number of highway traffic fatalities last year was the lowest on record at 147 was made possible by the mature safe-driving awareness and practices of the public. We hope that this year, too, a driving culture that prioritizes safety over haste will take deep root in our society, and Korea Expressway Corporation will do its utmost to ensure that every journey on the highway leads to safety.
