Seoul opens first rest stop on Olympic Expressway for drowsy drivers

Drivers on Olympic Expressway can now pull over for a safe rest during long trips — and take in sweeping views of the Han River at sunset and after dark — at a new observatory-style rest area that opened this week.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Facilities Corporation completed construction of the city's first observatory-style drowsy-driver rest stop on Olympic Expressway, on the Gimpo-bound side at the south end of Olympic Bridge, and opened it to the public on Tuesday.

Seoul's urban expressways have long lacked dedicated rest areas despite their considerable length, unlike highways, leaving long-distance drivers with nowhere to stop and raising safety concerns. According to the Seoul Facilities Corporation's traffic information division, four drowsy-driving accidents were recorded on Olympic Expressway — which stretches 43.1 kilometers — over the past five years.

Drowsy driving is the leading cause of fatal road accidents. A 2026 traffic accident analysis by the Korea Expressway Corporation and the Korean National Police Agency found that drowsy driving and failure to watch the road ahead together accounted for roughly 50 to 60 percent or more of all highway fatalities — the highest share of any cause.

To address that gap and prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Facilities Corporation have been working to introduce rest stops on the city's urban expressways. The new facility at the south end of Olympic Bridge is the first of its kind.

The city converted a previously underused space into a comfortable rest area. The stop features 27 parking spaces, modern restrooms open around the clock, an indoor lounge, an observation deck overlooking the Han River at sunset, and a walking path.

Acceleration and deceleration lanes were added at the entrance and exit to suit the expressway environment, and high-definition security cameras and emergency call buttons were installed to enhance visitor safety.

The facility goes beyond a simple drowsy-driving prevention stop, offering safety, rest and scenic views in one urban complex. Its location — with direct sightlines to Olympic Bridge and the Han River at dusk — is expected to help long-distance drivers unwind both physically and mentally.

The city hopes the opening will not only curb drowsy-driving accidents but also lay the groundwork for expanding urban rest facilities suited to Seoul's expressway network. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport statistics have confirmed the policy's effectiveness, showing a significant drop in fatalities related to drowsy driving after rest stops were installed on highways.

Starting with this first rest stop, the city plans to monitor user satisfaction and changes in traffic flow before deciding whether to add more stops along other sections of the expressway.

Han Byong-yong, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's disaster and safety management office, said he hoped the facility — the first urban rest stop of its kind on a Seoul expressway — would serve as "a safety comma" where drivers can protect their lives and shake off fatigue amid the beautiful scenery of the Han River.