Suwon Special City Seeks Rational Operation of 'Time-Limited Speed Restrictions in Child Protection Zones'

Suwon Special City has decided to operate vehicle speed restrictions in child protection zones flexibly, moving away from uniform application that had drawn complaints from drivers.

Suwon Special City (Mayor Lee Jae-jun) held the 12th Transportation Policy Development Forum at the City Hall Conference Room on the 13th, addressing "time-limited speed restrictions in child protection zones" as an agenda item and discussing measures to rationally adjust speed restriction regulations.

The forum proceeded with expert presentations and discussions. Lee Dong-min, chair of the Korean Society of Transportation, a professor of transportation engineering at Seoul City University, served as moderator.

Kim Da-ye, senior researcher at the Korea Road Traffic Authority, presented on "directions for promoting time-limited speed restrictions in child protection zones," and Shim Jae-ik, honorary research fellow at the Korea Transport Institute, presented on "flexible operation of speed restrictions in child protection zones."

"Time-limited speed restrictions in child protection zones" is a system that normally limits vehicle speeds to 30 km/h in child protection zones, but temporarily raises the speed limit during times when there are few or no child pedestrians, such as late-night hours.

In discussions with panelists including Kim Do-hun, director of the Urban Data Analysis Division at the Suwon City Research Institute; Jeon Geum-sun, manager of the Gyeonggi South Safety Management Division at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority; Lee Hyun, head of the Traffic Facilities Team at Suwon Paldal Police Station; and Kim Ji-young, president of the Suwon Youngtong Green Mothers' Association, participants discussed application targets and operating hours for time-limited speed restrictions.

Discussion participants agreed that "it is necessary to prioritize child pedestrian safety while implementing policies suitable to road conditions in different areas."