From 2020 to the recent five years, there have been a total of 4,112 traffic accidents caused by road icing, resulting in 83 deaths and 6,664 injuries. 78% (3,198 cases) of all accidents were concentrated in December and January, and more accidents occurred on clear or cloudy days than on snowy or rainy days.
Additionally, ‘Black ice,’ which forms when snow, rain, and moisture slightly freeze on the road surface, is very dangerous as it is not easily visible to drivers. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 17th urged special caution for traffic accidents on icy roads that are likely to occur in winter. They emphasized that on icy roads, the braking distance of vehicles is longer than on dry roads, so a sufficient safety distance should be maintained.
According to the Traffic Accident Analysis System (TAAS) of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, the most frequent time for road icing traffic accidents was between 8 and 10 a.m., when temperatures are low and morning traffic increases, with 798 cases. Additionally, the fatality rate (number of deaths per 100 traffic accidents) was highest between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., at ‘3.8’.
When driving on winter roads, it is advisable to check the weather and road conditions before driving. Especially in cold weather, it is important to identify areas prone to frequent icing or frequent traffic accidents in advance to prepare for potential accidents. On icy roads, the braking distance of passenger cars can increase up to seven times compared to normal, so it is important to maintain a sufficient distance from the car in front.