Police launch crackdown on high-risk freight trucks on highways this fall

Police will roll out a highway safety campaign targeting high-risk vehicles — including freight trucks and large buses — from Thursday through Nov. 30, as the autumn leisure season gets underway.

Korean National Police Agency traffic statistics show that over the five years from 2020 through last year, freight truck accidents on highways killed an average of 61.8 people per month in October and November, 20 percent more than the 51.5 monthly average in other months. Large bus accidents during the same October-November period claimed an average of 3.7 lives per month, 54 percent more than the 2.4 monthly average for the rest of the year.

In response, police plan to conduct intensive investigations during the campaign period into unauthorized tampering with speed-limiting devices on freight trucks, as well as overloading, speeding and poor vehicle maintenance. Round-the-clock drunk-driving checkpoints will also be set up at key locations, including tourist bus departure points and popular fall foliage destinations.

Police will also step up enforcement of designated-lane violations on highways using unmarked patrol cars, and will focus checks on shoulder-lane driving, drinking and singing inside vehicles, and failure to wear seat belts.

A Korean National Police Agency official urged the public to observe basic traffic safety rules — buckling up in all seats, taking adequate rest to prevent drowsy driving and refraining from drunk driving entirely — adding: "We hope everyone has a happy autumn outing."