New regulations designed to help make South Korea's roads safer come into effect today.<br />Car passengers in the back seats will be legally required to fasten their seatbelts... and penalties await people riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol.<br />Seo Bo-bin reports. <br />Starting Friday, people will be penalized if caught riding a bicycle while drunk.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> The new regulations will be effective not only on public roads but also on bicycle paths such as those alongside the Han River.<br />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. <br /><br /> Another regulation being enforced is the mandatory use of seatbelts for all seats in vehicles on the road and on highways. <br /><br /> 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. <br /><br /> The new regulations aim to reduce the number of deaths from traffic accidents by half by 2022.<br />Seo Bo-bin, Arirang News. <br />
