Record High Devastation from Distracted Bicyclists in Early 2024

The National Police Agency (NPA) has revealed alarming statistics indicating a surge in serious injuries and deaths resulting from distracted bicyclists in the first six months of 2024. In total, there have been 18 reported accidents by June, out of which 17 involved serious injuries, and one resulted in a fatality. This marks a more than twofold increase compared to the same timeframe last year and is the highest number recorded since 2007, when the agency began monitoring such incidents.

A breakdown of the accidents shows that in three cases, cyclists were engaged in phone conversations, while the vast majority—15 accidents—occurred as a result of cyclists watching videos or other content on their devices. The NPA released these statistics ahead of significant reforms to the Road Traffic Law, which will take effect in November. These legal amendments, approved in May, will render the act of using a smartphone or similar device while cycling an offense that can lead to penalties.

From 2019 to 2023, there were 102 major traffic accidents linked to cyclists distracted by electronic devices. Analysis of these incidents revealed that over half of the distracted cyclists involved were under 20 years old, with nearly 20 percent in their 20s and more than 10 percent in their 30s. As for the other individuals affected in these collisions, the statistics showed that 36.3 percent involved cars, 34.3 percent involved pedestrians, and 26.5 percent were other cyclists.

Additionally, the statistics indicate that distracted drivers also pose a significant threat on the roads; in the first half of 2024, motorists using smartphones were implicated in 14 fatal accidents and 44 serious injury incidents.