Pedal camera footage analysis from a November 2023 taxi crash in Seoul showed the accelerator was mistakenly pressed. - KOREA TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SEOUL: In the wake of several tragic car accidents across South Korea, pedal cameras are being proposed as a new tool to address the contentious issue of sudden unintended acceleration, or SUA.
These cameras, which capture drivers’ foot movements, are being touted as a means to provide clear evidence and settle disputes over the true causes of accidents.
The conversation is divided: Should car manufacturers include pedal cameras as standard equipment, or should individual drivers be responsible for installing them?
While these devices could provide critical evidence in post-accident investigations, critics argue that they do not prevent SUA accidents and would add financial strain to South Korean drivers, many of whom have already spent money on dashcams.
SUA is when a car suddenly speeds up without the driver pressing the accelerator and often despite pressing the brakes. This surge can be caused by electronic faults, mechanical failures or software bugs within the vehicle’s throttle system.
On July 1, a horrifying accident near Seoul City Hall saw a car moving uncontrollably in the wrong direction, leading to the deaths of nine people and injuries to seven others. The driver claimed the brakes failed because of SUA.
Just days later, on July 3, a taxi collided with an ambulance near the National Medical Centre in Seoul, injuring three people. Again, the driver blamed SUA.
Another incident on July 7 involved a four-car pile-up in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with the taxi driver citing the same issue.
These accidents have sparked heated debates. Were these truly cases of SUA, or could the drivers have mistakenly pressed the wrong pedal?
Scepticism about drivers’ claims of SUA is widespread. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority reports that from 2010 to 2022, 766 accidents were blamed on SUA. However, after official investigations, none were found to be caused by car defects.
Further analysis by the National Forensic Service between 2013 and 2018 revealed that in 75 per cent of 269 investigated SUA claims, driver error was the real cause. In these cases, drivers believed they were pressing the brakes when they had actually pressed the accelerator.
In response to the recent accidents, Representative Lee Heon-seung of the ruling People Power Party introduced a Bill on July 9 requiring car manufacturers to install built-in pedal cameras.
However, a day later, Transport Minister Park Sang-woo opposed the mandate. He suggested the ministry recommend that individual consumers, instead, should install pedal cams. He argued that mandating pedal cameras could complicate car exports, as no other country has such a requirement.
This could lead to trade friction, and it is uncertain whether the South Korean market is significant enough for international carmakers to produce models equipped with pedal cams exclusively for the country.
Pedal cams are also reactive measures; they can only show during post-accident investigations if a driver pressed the wrong pedal. Critics argue that focusing on preventive measures would be more effective.
For instance, Japan’s unintended acceleration prevention system detects unusual engine speed spikes and responds with warning sounds or automatic braking. Since its 2012 launch as an optional built-in feature, more than 90 per cent of new cars in Japan have adopted this system, and its installation will become mandatory in 2025.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority began a study in December 2023 to develop an industrywide standard for similar technology and is expected to complete it by the end of August 2024. Hyundai Motor’s recently launched Casper Electric is the only model in South Korea currently equipped with such a prevention system.
There is another debate over the additional costs for pedal cams that drivers in South Korea would incur.
Many have already shelled out significant amounts for after-market dashcams, which range from 100,000 won (S$98) to 300,000 won, depending on the model and number of cameras. These dashcams provide essential real-time footage as evidence in the event of an accident.
A 2019 survey by Embrain Trend Monitor revealed that 88.9 per cent of South Korean drivers use dashcams, a figure much higher than in many other countries. For instance, a 2017 AA Insurance survey found that only 15 per cent of respondents in the UK owned dashcams.
Manufacturers like Hyundai have started offering built-in dashcams as optional features. Despite widespread use, dashcams, like pedal cameras, are not legally required in South Korea.
Car engineering professor Kim Pil-su from Daelim University has been a vocal advocate for pedal cameras. He even founded an SUA research group in 2015 to address these issues.
“In South Korea, if you’re in a car accident, it’s up to you to prove you weren’t at fault. This contrasts with countries like the US and those in Europe with stronger consumer protection laws, where manufacturers must prove there was no defect if blamed or sued,” he said.
“That’s why I’m pushing for drivers to purchase both dashcams and pedal cams. It’s the only way to settle these disputes over sudden unintended acceleration once and for all.” - The Korea Herald/ANN
