This groundbreaking technology has already drawn nationwide media attention, with coverage from KBS (Korea’s public broadcaster) and other major outlets.

[News Coverage]

Anchor
Following a tragic accident at the Seomyeon intersection where a city bus struck pedestrians and killed two people, the first “Pedal Black Box” has now been installed on Busan city buses.

The system, which can determine the cause of accidents, also features collision and lane-departure detection, raising expectations for its accident-prevention benefits.

Reporter (Choi Wi-ji)
A city bus ran through a crosswalk despite the pedestrian signal, leaving two people dead.

The bus driver claimed the brakes had failed, and police are currently investigating.

In March last year, a similar case occurred when a bus crashed into three vehicles and injured ten people. The driver also claimed brake failure, but the investigation revealed the real cause was pedal misoperation.

With such accidents repeating, Busan has now begun pilot installation of the “Pedal Black Box.” The device records the driver’s foot movements during operation, enabling investigators to verify which pedal was pressed at the moment of an accident.

Kwon Oh-ik / Staff at AI Vehicle Equipment Company
“By analyzing the timestamp of the accident and the black box footage with AI, we can confirm whether or not the driver pressed the brake pedal.”

Bus drivers have responded positively, as the system can clearly determine liability in the event of an accident.

Lee Jong-yeol / City Bus Driver
“I’ve long wanted this installed to prove when I’m not at fault. I’m glad it’s finally being introduced.”

In addition to the pedal black box, cameras that detect pedestrians and obstacles on the road have also been installed. The system issues audible warnings when a collision risk or lane departure is detected, helping prevent accidents.

System Alert: “Watch the road ahead.”

Sung Hyun-do / Chairman, Busan City Bus Transport Association
“We expect this will prevent fatal accidents and significantly reduce safety incidents inside buses as well.”

Busan City and the Bus Transport Association plan to review pilot results before expanding the system across the entire fleet.

KBS News, Choi Wi-ji

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