The children protection zone has continue to expand since 1993 when it was first introduced. Meanwhile, it has been assessed as positive contribution to the decrease of children’s traffic accidents. On the other hand, in order to prevent children’...
The children protection zone has continue to expand since 1993 when it was first introduced. Meanwhile, it has been assessed as positive contribution to the decrease of children’s traffic accidents. On the other hand, in order to prevent children’s traffic accidents, the government, the public institutions, non-profit civil organizations and corporations have made combined efforts to enhance children’s consciousness of the traffic safety through diversified educational programs and campaigns for the children. Furthermore, in order to prevent the children’s traffic accidents, the traffic safety facilities and the speed traps have been installed and operated in the children protection zone. However, such speed facilities and traps not befitting the road conditions have the kangaroo effects of avoiding the trap, and drivers’ such driving pattern might lead to collision accidents, endangering children’s safety. Hence, it must be essential to maintain and manage the limited speed in the children protection zone.
The purpose of this study was to find the ways to have drivers observe the speed limit in the children protection zones. For this purpose, this study sampled 3 points having the similar traffic conditions, and thereby, measured vehicle speed, distance between vehicles and frequency of their collisions. Then, this study collected the data about the changes of the driving patterns in the children protection zones and thereby, conducted a statistical test for a comparative analysis.
As a result of comparatively analyzing the effects of the speed bump on children’s traffic safety, it was found that the more the bumps were installed in the children protection zones, the vehicle speed was lower. On the other hand, as a result of AVOVA of the vehicle speeds depending on the speed bumps, it was found that the vehicle speeds 50 meters before and after the speed camera were not significantly different, while driving patterns were similar at the points with the speed bumps. As a result of analyzing the inter-vehicle distance by point, it was found that the distance was wider at the points with the speed bumps installed, and that the vehicles running faster kept a relatively long distance. As a result of comparatively analyzing the frequency of the collision accidents before and after the installation of a speed trap, it was found that the collisions were more frequent at the points with the speed bumps. However, since the number of the traffic accidents was small for the points sampled, it was deemed difficult to affirm that the speed bumps had induced the traffic accidents. Thus, this study examined the cases of collision to suggest the specific causes for the accidents. The causes of collision were classified into three: braking, passing and honking. As a result of analyzing the causes by point, it was found that more collisions occurred at the points with no speed bump. At the points with the speed bumps, braking occurred more, but at the point with the speed trap installed, the collisions were less frequent.
As a result of analyzing the similar 3 points comparatively, the points with no speed trap scored higher in terms of passing speed, inter-vehicle distance, frequency of traffic accidents and collisions, which suggests that the speed bump or one of the speed limit facilities would be effective in having the drivers maintain the driving pattern and speed limit in the children protection zones. Furthermore, in case the speed trap facilities are installed in the children protection zone on the road of 60km design speed, it would be essential to install the speed limit facilities, while checking the over-speed of the vehicles to suppress the kangaroo effects and ensure children’s safety.