ID :
58212
Wed, 04/29/2009 - 20:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58212
The shortlink copeid
Gov't to reduce urban speed limit to 50 kph this year
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will drop the speed limit for certain city streets to 50 kilometers per hour this year as part of a plan to help relieve traffic jams and prevent automobile accidents, a presidential council said Wednesday.
The move comes under a plan to reform the country's traffic system that will also
increase the number of crossroads where "unprotected" left-turns are allowed,
according to the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness.
"Our traffic system falls far behind those of advanced countries as we are faced
with chronic traffic jams, large numbers of accidents and daily traffic
violations," the committee said in a press release.
At a committee meeting held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae later
Wednesday, President Lee Myung-bak said the move will not only raise the
country's competitiveness, but also help the nation overcome the global economic
crisis.
"Though we hear about many international organizations saying good things about
our economy doing slightly better than others, the government believes we are
still in harm's way. We need to take additional efforts and be more cautious,"
the president said.
The committee stressed that reducing traffic congestion and accidents could help
save over 25 trillion won (US$18 billion) a year in energy and other traffic
related costs.
From 2011, left-turn signals at all intersections will appear only after traffic
crossing the other way has passed, while unprotected turns will be allowed on
some streets with less than two lanes in Seoul and three lanes in other parts of
the country.
The measures will help reduce the average amount of time needed to cross
intersections from 180 seconds to about 130 seconds, according to Hwang
Chang-seon, an official at the National Police Agency.
Reduced traffic congestion will also help reduce greenhouse gas emission by
passenger vehicles, which currently account for nearly 80 percent of emissions by
all means of transportation, the presidential committee said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
The move comes under a plan to reform the country's traffic system that will also
increase the number of crossroads where "unprotected" left-turns are allowed,
according to the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness.
"Our traffic system falls far behind those of advanced countries as we are faced
with chronic traffic jams, large numbers of accidents and daily traffic
violations," the committee said in a press release.
At a committee meeting held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae later
Wednesday, President Lee Myung-bak said the move will not only raise the
country's competitiveness, but also help the nation overcome the global economic
crisis.
"Though we hear about many international organizations saying good things about
our economy doing slightly better than others, the government believes we are
still in harm's way. We need to take additional efforts and be more cautious,"
the president said.
The committee stressed that reducing traffic congestion and accidents could help
save over 25 trillion won (US$18 billion) a year in energy and other traffic
related costs.
From 2011, left-turn signals at all intersections will appear only after traffic
crossing the other way has passed, while unprotected turns will be allowed on
some streets with less than two lanes in Seoul and three lanes in other parts of
the country.
The measures will help reduce the average amount of time needed to cross
intersections from 180 seconds to about 130 seconds, according to Hwang
Chang-seon, an official at the National Police Agency.
Reduced traffic congestion will also help reduce greenhouse gas emission by
passenger vehicles, which currently account for nearly 80 percent of emissions by
all means of transportation, the presidential committee said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
