The accident began around 8:37 am on the 22nd at Gukchaebosang-ro, Jungni-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu. The car driven by a 74-year-old taxi driver was driving on a three-lane road and struck the car ahead, sparking a series of collisions. Afterwards, the taxi continued to run for another 50 meters without stopping, hitting cars in the surrounding lanes one after another, and eventually came to a stop after being caught between cars. Witnesses at the scene vividly testified to the urgent situation at the time, with cars tangling and being pushed up onto the crosswalk with a loud noise. Fortunately, there were no deaths, but considerable damage occurred, with a total of 9 vehicles damaged and 8 people urgently transported to the hospital.

Initial investigation by police and fire authorities revealed that the driver involved in the accident was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The driver seemed embarrassed and could not clearly explain the circumstances of the accident, and the investigative agency tentatively concluded that the accident was caused by the elderly driver's inexperience and began a detailed investigation, including black box analysis. The fact that the accident vehicle continued to run for several tens of meters without slowing down after the collision suggests that there may have been a problem with the driver's cognitive ability or coping skills rather than a possible vehicle defect. This incident has become a clear example of how vulnerable the elderly, whose physical response speeds slow down, can be in complex urban environments.

What's even more unfortunate is that this Daegu accident is not an isolated incident. On the 21st, a day before the accident, a disaster occurred in Busan when a car driven by a 78-year-old driver rushed onto the sidewalk and hit a mother and daughter. As accidents caused by elderly drivers are reported every day across the country, public anxiety is reaching its peak. Statistically, the number of accidents involving drivers over the age of 65 is increasing every year, which is also a limitation of the safety system that Korea, which has entered an aging society, must inevitably face. Although the government operates an incentive system for returning driver's licenses, the actual participation rate remains in the 2% range, making it urgent to come up with more effective measures.

Meanwhile, the deviation of public officials responsible for road safety is also causing social outrage. Recently, in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, it was reported that a current police officer who ran away after ramming a fellow police officer who was conducting a drunken driving control and a taxi that was trying to stop him was released due to the dismissal of an arrest warrant. The court cited the low risk of destroying evidence and running away, but there is growing criticism that lenient standards are being applied to public officials who have committed serious crimes such as drunk driving and obstruction of official duties. Indiscriminate collision accidents in the city center and public officials' lax discipline prove how precarious our roads are, and make us question once again whether the laws and systems are protecting the safety of citizens as a top priority.