As South Korea ages more quickly than most other countries on the planet, it’s doing something new to help those in the twilight of their lives: slowing down changes in traffic signals to allow more time to cross the road. The Seoul city government said on Monday it will lengthen intervals between changes in traffic signals by the end of this year in 59 areas where welfare centers are located for the aged. Traffic signals in those areas will be adjusted for a walking spe
ed of 0.8 meter per second, slower than the current speed of one meter per second. The new standard will allow people an additional 7.5 seconds to complete a 30-meter crosswalk. The city government said it also plans to make traffic lights transition more slowly from red to green in the same areas because the elderly react slowly to signal changes. South Koreans are known for a “pali-pali” (hurry up) culture and often walk quickly or run on the streets. “Most regular pedestrians, especially the young, may feel like the new traffic signal changes are too slow,” said Kim Kyoung-woo, a Seoul city government official in charge of the safety of pedestrians. The new policy is partly a response to an increasing number of senior citizens falling victim to the traffic accidents in recent years. Official data show the number of traffic accidents involving those aged 65 or older in the capital totaled 4,500 in 2013, up 20% from in 2011. Last year in Seoul, 34% of total deaths in traffic accidents were of people aged 65 or older.