Yangcheon-gu replaces 282 aging traffic signs with LED units to cut nighttime accidents

Yangcheon-gu in Seoul has replaced 282 aging traffic safety signs with luminous LED units to improve nighttime road safety.

The district said it conducted on-site inspections in the first half of this year before upgrading 282 traffic safety signs across 217 locations, including school zones, one-way streets, traditional markets, restaurant alleys and central shopping areas.

The project aims to reduce traffic safety blind spots in narrow alleyways where drivers struggle to see clearly at night or in wet weather, as well as in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.

The signs replaced cover 66 integrated safety signs in school zones, 185 traffic safety signs along one-way streets, and 31 signs in high-density areas such as traditional markets, restaurant alleys and central shopping districts.

The new luminous LED signs charge via solar panels during the day and switch on automatically at dusk. The district expects the signs to improve visibility not only at night but also during rain and other adverse weather, helping prevent wrong-way driving and traffic confusion in narrow alleyways.

Yangcheon-gu has been steadily upgrading its traffic signage since 2023, replacing 368 signs — including start- and end-point safety markers, integrated safety signs and crosswalk signs in school zones — with LED units through last year. Last year alone, the district upgraded 159 traffic safety signs at 113 one-way street locations, continuing its focus on areas with elevated traffic safety risks.

Going forward, the district plans to conduct regular inspections of replaced signs for deterioration or damage, as well as for any obstructions to solar charging, to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the installations.

"Traffic safety signs are a critical facility that help drivers accurately read road conditions and drive safely," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "We will carefully examine safety vulnerabilities on roads closely tied to residents' daily lives — such as school routes and alleyways — to create a traffic environment where everyone can travel with peace of mind."