"Cracking Down on Motorcycles Using Sidewalks: Police Launch Pilot Operation of Enforcement Equipment"

Violators' License Plates Tracked for Movement Detection

The police are cracking down on motorcycles and other vehicles illegally using sidewalks, which threaten pedestrian safety, using newly developed equipment.

On March 15, the National Police Agency announced that it has developed "sidewalk traffic enforcement equipment" and will launch pilot operations at five locations nationwide. This equipment is designed to ensure pedestrian traffic safety by identifying vehicles that enter sidewalks or areas prohibited by traffic safety signs, recognizing their license plates, and tracking their movement for enforcement.

Police are cracking down on disorderly motorcycle riding at the Gangnam Station intersection in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The pilot operation sites for the sidewalk traffic enforcement equipment were selected based on areas with frequent motorcycle accidents and regions with a high number of civil complaints due to motorcycles using sidewalks. The five target locations are: the Yeongdeungpo Market intersection and Sangbong Station intersection in Seoul; the intersection in front of Suwon City Hall and the area around the Suwon KCC intersection; and the Byeongyeong intersection in Ulsan.

To prevent the indiscriminate increase of unmanned enforcement devices, the new equipment will be installed by adding functions to existing fixed unmanned enforcement cameras, such as those for traffic signals or speeding. The police plan to analyze the effectiveness of the pilot operations and, based on the results, establish and distribute standards for the installation and operation of this equipment.

Kim Hoseung, Director General of Traffic Safety at the National Police Agency, stated, "Since we have developed new enforcement equipment to ensure pedestrians can feel safe, we will actively cooperate with local police commissions to expand its distribution." He also urged, "All drivers of motorcycles and other vehicles should remember that once they step out of their vehicle, they too become pedestrians, and should remain vigilant."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.