New regulations designed to help make South Korea's roads safer come into effect today.
Car passengers in the back seats will be legally required to fasten their seatbelts... and there are going to be penalties for people biking while under the influence of alcohol.
Seo Bo-bin reports.
Starting Friday, people will be penalized if caught riding a bicycle while drunk.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, under the revised Road Traffic Act, people riding bicycles while intoxicated will have to pay a fine of 30 US dollars. There was previously a clause prohibiting cycling while drunk, but it wasn't enforced.

The new regulations will be effective not only on public roads but also on bicycle paths such as those alongside the Han River.
It is also mandatory to wear a safety helmet when riding a bicycle, although no punishment will be imposed when a helmet is not used.

Another regulation being enforced is the mandatory use of seatbelts for all seats in vehicles on the road and on highways.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, if people involved in traffic accidents aren't wearing a seatbelt, the chances of death are 2-point-8 times higher for those in the front seat and 3-point-7 times higher for those in the back seat.

The new regulations aim to reduce the number of deaths from traffic accidents by half by 2022.
Seo Bo-bin, Arirang News.