Pedestrians to walk on the right

The government said yesterday it will revise relevant laws so that pedestrians will keep to the right, reversing the system that has been in place for almost a century.

The Transportation Ministry said that most people tend to naturally stick to their right.

"Our studies found that people are psychologically prone to veer right when they walk around; it`s also a globally acknowledged mannerism," said Cho Sung-tae, deputy director of the ministry`s public administration division.



The ministry unveiled the reform after undertaking thorough traffic-related studies, including pedestrian habits and the expected improvements in the operational efficiency and safety of the nation`s traffic conditions.

"We believe changing the law to encourage people to walk to the right and think to the right will help promote social order and improve public traffic safety," Cho said.

The current regulation dictating that pedestrians stick to their left stems from a law enforced in 1921, which obliged both people and vehicles to move along their left side. This law changed in March 1946 and called for all vehicles to travel along the right side.

Another reform in December 1961 reinforced the requirement that everyone should walk to their left, whether on the streets or public areas.

Cho said a general meeting, including policymakers, academic experts, civic groups and private citizens, is schedule for May to raise awareness and gather a consensus.

The ministry said that a poll it conducted on 629 people walking along Seoul`s Namsan found that 46 percent had the tendency to walk to their left side, while 47 percent cited the right. A poll conducted on 411 pedestrians at Seoul`s Apgujeong-dong found that 30 percent of them cited their left and 33 percent their right.

"It`s a step towards gradual implementation of our `pedestrian walking culture,`" the official said. "We can`t say exactly when the law will be passed and enforced, but such steps are important for the process of reforms and shoring up public confidence," he added.

The official said aggressive promotion campaigns will also be organized to raise public awareness and create conditions for a smooth social transition.

Another study showed that walking on the left side could reduce eye movement by 15 percent, discomfort by 13 percent and heart rate by 18 percent.

"Establishing the social discipline of walking on the right would also ease confusion and frustration in foreign visitors, who are most likely to follow the global standard practice of sticking towards the right," Cho said.

By Yoo Soh-jung



(sohjung@heraldm.com)