The Loss Caused by Traffic in 2000 Was 19.5 Trillion Won

The loss caused by traffic such as waste of time and fuel expenses is increasing.

According to the report titled `Nation-wide Loss Caused by Traffic in 2000` which the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) announced on the 17th, the traffic loss arouse on the roads to main districts over the country and in the 7 largest cities like Seoul and Busan was 19 trillion and 448.2 billion won in 2001 increased by 13.6 percent from 1999. The loss was highest in 2000 since KOTI had begun estimating the loss in 1991, and became 4.3 times larger in 9 years than 456.4 billion won in 1991, which has been increasing average 17.5 percent yearly. The ratio of loss to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2000 was 3.76 percent increased from 2.11 percent in 1991.

The traffic loss of Seoul was 4 trillion and 714.1 billion won (42.3 percent), and that of Busan 2 trillion and 660.9 billion won (23.8 percent), Incheon 1 trillion and 305.2 billion won (11.7 percent), Daegu 779.1 billion won (7 percent), Gwangju 711.1 billion won (6.4 percent), Daejeon 699.2 billion won (6.3 percent) and Ulsan 279.4 billion won (2.5 percent) in order.

The loss per a person by cities was 730,000 won in Busan, 530,000 won in each Incheon and Gwangju, 480,000 won in Seoul, 510,000 won in Daejeon, 310,000 won in Daegu, and 280,000 won in Ulsan. Each car in Seoul wastes around 116 liters of fuel in a year due to the traffic.

The rising rate of the loss in Gwangju averaged yearly 26.8 percent, highest of all cities, due to the construction of subway line 1.

A researcher thought that the loss has been increasing due to the rise of fuel price, increase of cars, increase of traffic for leisure during weekends along with traffic jam caused by subway construction.

Dr. Kim Gyung-Jin, a researcher of KOTI, said, "in order to reduce the loss, it is required △to use public transportation such as city railroad in metropolitan areas, △to operate traffic facilities effectively and introduce an advanced traffic system, △to control rationally the demand of traffic as well as to increase investment for facilities like expansion of roads."

The traffic loss is calculated by summing the time loss and the increased operation expenditure caused by the operation slower than regular speed due to traffic congestion.

Ja-Ryong Koo bonhong@donga.com