Full Drivers` Licenses after Preliminary Two-Year Driving Permits

The regulation on `preliminary driving permits` prescribes that people applying for their first driver`s license should be issued not full drivers` licenses but preliminary driving permits for 2 years in 2004.

Preliminary licensed drivers will have to receive safety education whenever they exceed the fixed black mark standards, and their permits will be automatically revoked if they end up taking driver`s education three times.

Officials at the Prime Minister’s Office declared on the 21st, "We recently decided on this policy in order to reduce the number of auto accidents caused by newly licensed drivers, which makes up 40 percent of death-causing auto accidents. And we have begun to prepare for revising related laws and the driver`s education program."

The Government also decided to strengthen the safety belt law to include front-seat passengers and backseat passengers, and to require cyclists to wear helmets.

The Government is also examining a policy of increasing the compensation limit for bodily injury liability insurance for each person from the current 80 million won to 150-200 million won, and changing voluntary insurance on car into the liability insurance.

Chol-Hi Lee klimt@donga.com