National Police Agency Announces 'Road Traffic Safety Promotion Strategy in Preparation for the Era of Fully Autonomous Driving'
Increased Importance of Autonomous Driving Safety Knowledge… Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules Scheduled for Amendment

The National Police Agency divides the timing of autonomous driving commercialization into three stages and systematically promotes a total of 28 tasks required for each stage by dividing them into three areas: evaluation and verification system, operational safety management, and infrastructure construction.

The National Police Agency announced the 'Road Traffic Safety Promotion Strategy in Preparation for the Era of Fully Autonomous Driving' at the Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting on the 13th.

The 'Road Traffic Safety Promotion Strategy for the Era of Fully Autonomous Driving' was established to present the mid-to-long-term direction of road traffic policies related to autonomous driving by integrating relevant measures to date, such as the 'Comprehensive Police Measures for the Commercialization of Autonomous Vehicles (National Police Agency, 2019)' and the 'Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Innovation Roadmap 2.0 (Joint Ministries, 2021).'

The National Police Agency has divided the timing of autonomous driving commercialization into three stages: Stage 1 (2023–2025) launch of Level 3 vehicles that minimize driver intervention and respond only in emergencies; Stage 2 (2026–2027) commercialization of Level 4 buses and shuttles corresponding to fully autonomous driving; and Stage 3 (2028 onwards) commercialization of Level 4 passenger cars.

First, the National Police Agency, in order to establish an 'evaluation and verification system' by 2025, [designates] the entity responsible for the safe operation and management of driverless autonomous vehicles We plan to regulate and cooperate to ensure that the ability of autonomous vehicles to comply with road traffic laws is verified.

As autonomous driving commercialization requires related safety knowledge, autonomous vehicle subjects such as the obligation to transfer driving control and driver responsibility will be added to the driver's license traffic safety education, and the Enforcement Rule of the Road Traffic Act is scheduled to be amended so that education can begin in 2024.

In the field of 'operational safety management,' overall safety management policies are promoted, including establishing administrative and criminal liability for traffic law violations during autonomous driving and devising control measures for autonomous vehicles in emergency situations such as natural disasters and unexpected events.

Finally, to 'establish a foundation,' we are also promoting the creation of a safe environment for autonomous vehicles, such as establishing a nationwide real-time signal information collection and provision system through cooperation with local governments.

The National Police Agency expects that the announcement of this promotion strategy will serve as a catalyst for securing public trust in autonomous driving traffic safety and for taking a leap forward as a leading nation in autonomous driving.

Subsequently, we plan to actively realize these tasks through the enactment of laws regarding the operation of autonomous vehicles, the expansion of research and development projects, and cooperation with industry, academia, research institutes, and relevant government ministries.

Police Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun stated on this day, “For the growth of the new autonomous driving industry, public trust in safety is paramount alongside technological development.” He added, “The National Police Agency will strive to ensure that autonomous vehicles can travel safely on the roads and will do its utmost to promote the safe development of the autonomous vehicle industry and secure future scientific policing.”