CAMERAS TO BE INSTALLED IN ALL SCHOOL ZONES

[Anchor Lead]

A law mandating surveillance cameras in all school zones has been passed by the National Assembly and will take effect in March. Under the new regulations, the speed limit in school zones will also be lowered, and drivers will be required to stop their vehicles in front of crosswalks without traffic lights. Here are the details.

[Pkg]

A vehicle passes by just a few inches away from a child walking on the roadside. On crosswalks without traffic lights, children have to watch out for themselves to stay away from moving cars. Although it's a school zone, the risk of accidents here is as high as on any other street.

[Soundbite] LEE HYE-MI(PARENT) : "I'm constantly worried that my child might get hit by a car. I'm especially concerned about motorcycles."

The government has introduced a new law to improve children's safety in school zones. The speed limit in all school zones will be lowered to 30km an hour. In narrow back alleys where safe routes to schools cannot be made, the speed limit will be lowered to 20km an hour. On crosswalks without traffic lights, drivers must stop even when there are no pedestrians around. Crackdowns on illegally parked cars in school zones will be intensified. Fines for illegal parking in school zones will also be tripled to 120,000 won from the current 80,000 won. Some 280 areas notorious for illegal parking in close proximity to schools will be closed down within this year.

[Soundbite] CHIN YOUNG(SAFETY MINISTER) : "It is our responsibility and the basic responsibility of the government to make sure that children can go to school safely."

More buses for transporting children will be subject to traffic violation reports. They will include buses operated by 18 kinds of facilities, including not only kindergartens and daycare centers but soccer clubs, study centers and children's welfare facilities. The government plans to reduce child deaths due to traffic accidents by 2024 to the seventh lowest level among OECD nations. But, other safety laws such as one mandating first aid in times of accidents have yet to be passed by the parliament.