Daejeon to provide free acceleration-preventing devices to older drivers to reduce traffic accidents
Published: 05 Apr. 2026, 15:36
![Firefighters extinguish a blaze in a vehicle in Gayang-dong, Gangseo District, western Seoul, on March 8 after a Porsche sedan crossed the center line and collided with one vehicle before suddenly accelerating and crashing head-on into two more vehicles in succession. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/05/63747d4d-0fd9-440d-a8de-23c5d6b97077.jpg)
Firefighters extinguish a blaze in a vehicle in Gayang-dong, Gangseo District, western Seoul, on March 8 after a Porsche sedan crossed the center line and collided with one vehicle before suddenly accelerating and crashing head-on into two more vehicles in succession. [NEWS1]
This year, Daejeon’s metropolitan government will provide free devices designed to prevent unintended acceleration for 200 taxis driven by people age 70 and older as part of efforts to reduce traffic accidents involving older drivers.
Local governments are installing these devices in taxis driven by older motorists. If a vehicle is moving at less than 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour with the device installed, then it will not speed up, even after the driver presses hard on the accelerator. The accelerator also stops responding when engine speed exceeds 4,500 revolutions per minute.
The Daejeon Metropolitan City plans to install the devices free of charge this year for 125 privately owned taxis and 75 corporate taxis. Each device costs 440,000 won ($290) to install.
According to Daejeon, a total of 7,939 taxis are currently operating in the city, including 5,311 privately owned cabs. Of private taxi drivers, around 3,000 are 65 or older, and about 1,500 are 70 or older. That means that roughly 85 percent of all private taxi drivers are at least 65.
Among the city’s 2,628 corporate taxi drivers, around 1,000 are age 65 or older, and 410 are 70 or older. In other words, 53.6 percent of corporate taxi drivers are at least 65.
With the device installed, the maximum permitted speed is 140 kilometers per hour. When the vehicle is moving forward or backward at less than 15 kilometers per hour, the system does not respond, even if the accelerator is pressed more than 80 percent of the way down. It also automatically warns the driver and slows the vehicle to the legal limit when the car comes within 250 meters (820 feet) of a traffic enforcement camera, identified through GPS.
However, the system includes a function that disables the acceleration prevention feature for one minute in case of an emergency.
![An official from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority installs a device designed to prevent accidental pedal errors in a vehicle. [JOONGANG ILBO]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/05/2a5e871d-299f-4af8-a3b4-b9be95527c2c.jpg)
An official from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority installs a device designed to prevent accidental pedal errors in a vehicle. [JOONGANG ILBO]
Taxi drivers in Daejeon can apply for the device from Friday through April 17, either by visiting Daejeon’s private taxi business association in person or by submitting an application via mail, fax or email. Selected drivers must keep the device installed for one year, provide driving records through an app and take part in surveys.
Daejon plans to work with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to analyze these records and surveys to determine the program’s effectiveness. The city also plans to use the findings as baseline data to shape future traffic safety policy for older drivers and expand the program.
“Preventing traffic accidents involving older drivers is an important issue directly tied to public safety,” said Nam Si-deok, the head of Daejeon’s transportation bureau. “Through this project, we will create a safer transportation environment and actively review expanding the policy based on the results of the pilot.”
Seosan in South Chungcheong also installed the devices in 100 taxis, trucks and other vehicles in two rounds — first in August 2025, then in that December. The program targeted drivers age 65 and older, selected based on recommendations from the Seosan Police Precinct, and the local government covered the full installation cost for every vehicle.
“The device had been a major help with driving more safely because it prevents sudden acceleration and also reduces the risk of getting caught by traffic enforcement cameras,” said Kim Je-gyeong, aged 73, a private taxi driver in Seosan who had the device installed in August 2025. Kim added that he hoped the GPS function would be updated more often.
![Ultrahigh-performance concrete planters, each weighing 1.3 tons, are installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul, to prepare for sudden accidents. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/05/3cf257fb-b49e-45fe-9b57-efebb5378ae5.jpg)
Ultrahigh-performance concrete planters, each weighing 1.3 tons, are installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul, to prepare for sudden accidents. [NEWS1]
“It will have a real effect in preventing accidents,” said Seosan Mayor Lee Wan-seop. “We will continue to actively pursue policies that protect citizens’ lives and safety.”
Seoul installed the device in 200 vehicles, including private taxis, in March. Other cities, including Cheonan in South Chungcheong, are also taking part in the program.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority is pursuing its own installation program, with the goal of equipping the system onto 3,260 taxis, cargo trucks and other vehicles nationwide this year. It will provide 200,000 won per vehicle for corporate operators and 320,000 won for individual operators to install the device.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM BANG-HYUN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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