Over the past decade, traffic accident fatalities in Seoul have decreased by nearly 40%, but the proportion of seniors aged 65 and older among the deceased has been increasing. This trend is attributed to the rapid overall aging of society and a rise in accidents involving elderly pedestrians who jaywalk.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the number of traffic accidents in Seoul fell from 39,893 cases in 2016 to 34,139 cases in 2025, a 14.4% decrease. Fatalities also dropped from 345 people to 201 people, a 39.1% reduction.
However, the share of seniors aged 65 and older among traffic fatalities has grown. In 2023, 44 out of 177 fatalities (24.9%) were elderly pedestrians, but this increased to 82 out of 210 fatalities (39%) last year. A police official explained, “Since last year, South Korea has entered a super-aged society where over 20% of the population is aged 65 or older. Additionally, traffic accidents caused by seniors jaywalking have been rising recently.”
The police noted that citizens under 65 walk at an average speed of 1.34 meters per second, while seniors walk at 0.93–1.16 meters per second. Due to their slower pace, some seniors become impatient and jaywalk, often assuming vehicles will avoid them. In November 2025 in Seoul’s Gangdong-gu, an 80-year-old woman was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing despite a red pedestrian signal.
Although the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted preventive activities, including jaywalking crackdowns, from August to September of this year, 15 seniors still died in traffic accidents during this period—the same number as the same period last year.
In response, the agency announced it will extend the preventive activity period by one month until October. They plan to intensify jaywalking prevention campaigns and enforce stricter crackdowns on dangerous jaywalking near roads with three or more lanes and bus-only lanes. A police official added, “We also urge drivers to avoid traffic violations such as running red lights and crossing the center line to help reduce accident risks.”
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