The U.S. government is launching a safety device distribution program this year to combat pedal misapplication accidents among senior drivers.
On January 10th, the Department of Transportation announced plans to support the installation of pedal confusion prevention devices for taxi and light commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 and older. This initiative addresses growing public concern over accidents involving elderly drivers.
The pedal confusion prevention device is an advanced safety feature designed to prevent sudden acceleration caused by driver error. It automatically blocks unintended acceleration when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal more than 80% while traveling at speeds below 15 km/h, or when the engine speed reaches 4,500 RPM.
The DOT, in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), plans to equip 3,260 vehicles with this device this year. The rollout includes 1,360 fleet taxis, 1,300 independent taxis, and 600 light-duty trucks. Following installation, a comprehensive safety analysis will be conducted.
The program targets taxi and light-duty truck drivers (with a maximum payload of 1.4 tons) aged 65 and older.
The initial phase will accept applications for fleet taxis from January 24th to March 9th through local taxi associations. A separate announcement in March will detail application periods and procedures for independent taxis and light-duty trucks.
The government will provide tiered financial support based on operator type. Fleet operators will receive a 200,000 KRW (150 USD) subsidy with a 200,000 KRW (150 USD) co-payment. Independent operators will receive 320,000 KRW (240 USD) in support and contribute 80,000 KRW (60 USD).
Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, email, or fax through local transportation associations and unions.
Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Hong Ji-seon, stated, “We can significantly reduce pedal misapplication accidents by leveraging advanced technology.”
He added, “We will continue to expand the adoption of advanced safety devices to create a transportation environment where senior drivers and all road users can feel secure.”
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