Police will provide pedal misapplication prevention devices to 740 drivers aged 65 or older to reduce pedal-error accidents among elderly drivers. Using data from the devices' operation, they will also pursue research toward introducing a conditional driver's license system.
The Korean National Police Agency said Friday that it will pursue a "support program for pedal misapplication prevention devices for elderly drivers" totaling 300 million won, in cooperation with the Korea Road Traffic Authority and the Citizens' Coalition for Safety (Ansillyeon), funded by a donation from KB Financial Group.
The program is part of the "integrated safety system" cooperation being pursued by the National Police Agency and KB Financial Group to address safety issues closely tied to citizens' daily lives, such as traffic accidents and financial fraud. The two sides have been conducting related programs since April 16 this year.
The devices will be provided to 740 license holders aged 65 or older who received elderly-driver counseling at 19 driver's license testing centers nationwide. Applications can be submitted from the 13th of this month through August 14, and the program may close early if there are many applicants.
Drivers seeking a device must consent to a driving ability assessment using a virtual environment-based driving ability diagnostic system and to the provision of driving data. Police plan to use the collected data to pursue research on a conditional driver's license system for high-risk drivers and on upgrading the driving ability diagnostic system.
A pedal misapplication prevention device structurally prevents situations in which a driver confuses the accelerator and brake pedals, causing sudden acceleration. Police plan to analyze actual driving data and device operation data to verify effectiveness and use it in future policymaking.
Lee Seo-young, director general of the Public Safety and Traffic Bureau at the National Police Agency, said, "This program is expected to be effective not only as simple support for pedal misapplication prevention devices, but also in pursuing various policies such as establishing a conditional driver's license system." She added, "We expect it will raise the level of traffic safety across society as a whole, not just the safety of individual elderly drivers."
