The South Korean National Police Agency said on the 24th that it will launch an artificial intelligence system pilot project in December to deploy artificial intelligence-based traffic cameras in Seoul to solve traffic jams at intersections. South Korean media reported that a pilot project called "Unattended Intersection Following Car Enforcement System" will be launched at an intersection in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, from December to February next year.
The system will issue a warning to vehicles that enter the intersection when the green light turns on but remain stuck at the intersection after the red light turns on, blocking traffic, except for vehicles that are forced to stop due to unavoidable emergencies such as traffic accidents or vehicle breakdowns.
This is April 19, 2019. Vehicles are driving on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Jingqiang
The new system uses artificial intelligence-based video analysis technology developed by the Korea National Police Agency’s research project. The police said that related technology has improved the accuracy of law enforcement and can handle behaviors such as running red lights, speeding and following cars too closely through a single device, thereby reducing maintenance needs and improving efficiency.
The South Korean police plan to install similar traffic cameras at 10 chronically congested intersections in 2026 and promote them to 883 congestion-prone intersections across the country in 2027.
According to South Korea's current "Road Traffic Act", when a driver approaches an intersection controlled by traffic lights, if there is a situation in front of the vehicle that may stop in the intersection due to congestion and obstruct other vehicles, he is not allowed to enter. Violators will be fined.
"Driving into an intersection just because the light is green, or acting out of selfish thoughts like 'I go first', will threaten public safety," said a police officer from the Korea National Police Agency. Police advise drivers to first determine the congestion ahead before deciding whether to continue driving when the green light turns green at an intersection. (Qiao Ying)