Supporting 105 older drivers across Asan, Nonsan, and Gongju to prevent sudden acceleration accidents

In a proactive effort to prevent sudden acceleration and dash accidents caused by pedal misapplications among elderly drivers, Chungnam Province is rolling out a new safety device installation initiative.

On the 7th, the province—in cooperation with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS)—began equipping vehicles with pedal misapplication prevention devices for 33 selected participants in Asan.

The pedal misapplication prevention device is an advanced safety system designed to suppress sudden vehicle acceleration when it detects abnormal operations, such as a driver mistakenly slamming down on the accelerator instead of the brake in an emergency situation.

Recognizing higher frequencies of senior traffic accidents, the province designated Asan, Nonsan, and Gongju as priority regions. Applications were accepted through the Chungnam Senior Citizens Association, ultimately finalizing 105 beneficiaries for the program.

Following the launch in Asan, the province will sequentially install the devices in Nonsan on the 14th and Gongju on the 15th.

Alongside these installations, Chungnam Province plans to integrate customized traffic safety education and infrastructure improvements. By combining these measures with hardware distribution, the province aims to build an accident-prevention safety net that protects the lives of both senior drivers and pedestrians.

A provincial official stated, "Through this initiative, we are shifting away from traditional approaches that rely solely on driver vigilance and safe driving habits. Instead, we are strengthening a prevention-focused traffic safety policy where vehicle safety features compensate for human error." The official added, "In response to our super-aged society, we will continue expanding tailored policies to secure traffic safety for senior drivers and pedestrians, creating a secure environment where everyone can travel safely."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]