Strengthened Traffic Safety Measures in Schools After Traffic Accidents in Front of Humanities Building

Pusan National University (PNU) has prepared traffic safety measures to prevent the recurrence of traffic deaths in the school.

Upon the summary of several reports by “Channel PNU” on August 30th, Busan Geumjeong Police Station said freshman A (College of Social Sciences, 24) was hit by a forklift while passing through a crosswalk in front of the Humanities Building on the afternoon of June 17th. A was transferred to a nearby university hospital immediately after the accident, but A died two days later on the morning of June 19th (reported by “Channel PNU” on June 19th, 2024). The forklift is known to be a vehicle used for the construction of the IT Building. Police said they sent a forklift driver to the prosecution on August 12th for violating the Act on Special Cases concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents.

After the accident, PNU faced criticism from the community. PNU has been put on the chopping block over the poor management responsibility of the construction vehicle’s operation on the campus. On June 26th, Busan MBC reported that there were no signs around the construction site announcing vehicle movements or dangers, and it was questionable whether there was active supervision by PNU. In particular, Forklifts are known to pose a high risk of accidents because their bodies are often higher than ordinary passenger cars, and they do not have a clear view. Also, the fork to lift the load is extended at the front of the vehicle. An expert from Korea Road Traffic Authority pointed out that “The fact that forklifts are circulating in the campus space is a problem itself.”

Accordingly, PNU announced that it has strengthened the management of the construction site. PNU added three things for the on-campus construction vehicles: placement of two signalmen for one construction site, the use of campus entrances as close as possible to the construction site of the construction vehicles, and strict compliance with the existing on-campus vehicle speed of 20km/h. This management plan is applied to all ongoing construction on campus. According to PNU’s Division of Facilities Management, there are currently eight construction projects outside of buildings underway at Busan Campus, with an additional five cases to be added, so 13 construction projects are scheduled.

Crackdowns on speeding in schools have also been greatly strengthened. PNU defines speeding as vehicles traveling more than 20km/h. According to the Division of General Affairs, speed cameras were installed in front of all crossings on campus after the accident. However, considering it is still impossible to impose a separate disposition unless it is a registered vehicle in the school, the speed bump was raised to slow the speed down physically. Park Seok-Ki, the manager of the General Affairs department, explained, “The speed bump installed after the accident is what cannot be passed unless the driver fully presses the brake and pauses.”

In addition, the “safety guard system” will be expanded this semester. Traffic safety management will be implemented for about five hours a day by selecting areas and time zones where students move frequently on campus, centering on retired employees.

Trees were removed near the area where the accident occurred. A total of 14 trees about 3m tall were removed. They were divided and planted in two 40m flower beds along the center line of the two-lane road in front of PNU’s Humanities Building. PNU President Choi Jae-Weon shared this plan in a letter to students and faculty on June 28th. He said, “As a president, I am very sorry and deeply apologize for not being able to protect the safety of students on campus. I will do anything for the safety of students and the Hyowon family.”

Reporter Channel PNU

Translated by Seo Ye-Jin