Number of traffic deaths in Seoul drops 15%

The number of deaths caused by traffic accidents in Seoul fell nearly 15 percent on-year in the July-November period thanks to facility improvements, data showed Tuesday.

According to the data compiled by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a total of 156 people were killed by traffic accidents in the capital city in the five-month period, down 14.8 percent from 183 cases a year earlier.

A city official attributed the decline to the completion of traffic facility improvements.

“We’ve completed work on the improvements to the traffic facilities in 37 major areas prone to accidents. That seems to have contributed to the decline,” he said.

Some 6 out of 10 deaths were caused by accidents involving a pedestrian and a car, with around 25 percent of fatalities caused by accidents between vehicles, the data showed.

As part of efforts to prevent traffic accidents further, the municipal government plans to set up and operate an integrated management system of road conditions starting next year, officials said. (Yonhap News)