Analytical Study on the Potential Risks from Right-Handled Vehicle Drivers

Abstract

The current traffic regulations in Korea stipulate that traffic should keep to the right according to the Road Traffic Act; thus, customarily, the 'seat-on-the-left' system has been maintained. However, an increased number of 'seat-on-the-right' vehicles are being imported via a variety of routes from foreign countries, especially from Japan. According to the data from July 2004, 1,343 cargo vehicles and 593 passenger vehicles (for diplomats, etc.) were currently being driven on domestic road. As these 'seat-on-the-right' vehicles are not compatible with the domestic transportation system of driving on the right side of the road, there is a high risk of accidents. Experiments show that such system-driver mismatch causes longer operation time for directional signals, higher error frequency in yielding due to additional mental adjustments for 'seat-on-the-right' vehicle drivers. These are, therefore, influential factors which can lead to possible accidents. Furthermore, when the experiments test the visual range during overtaking maneuvers, the visual range of the drivers in the 'seat-on-the-left' vehicle was 2.95 meters as opposed to 1.7 meters for the drivers in the 'seat-on-the-right' vehicle. (In the experiment, the drivers were instructed to look at the paper cup 10 meters away from the back of drivers' seat.) The results demonstrate that it is necessary to have additional safety measures be implemented for the 'seat-on-the-right' vehicles.