TV-addict trucker kills 3 cyclists
2012-05-03 08:52
KILLER HABIT: Drivers in South Korea keep up with their soapies on the road - and there's no law against it.
SEOUL, South Korea - A truck driver was watching TV in his cab when he hit and killed three professional women cyclists.
The TV, mounted on the truck's fascia, was still on when police and emergency crews arrived at the scene in Euiseong, 330km south-east of Seoul and the driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
His truck rammed a van following the women with their coach inside and pushed it into the trio. They died instantly and four other people were seriously injured.
OTHER CHARGES
A Euiseong police spokesman told AFP: "Although the law bans drivers from watching TV while driving there isn't any (specific) penalty when caught, so we can't do anything about it."
Offenders can, however, be charged with other road traffic offences if they cause an accident while watching the screen.
Digital multimedia TV's are not unusual in vehicles in tech-savvy South Korea but are supposed to cut out when the vehicle is in motion. This, of course, can be over-ridden by a technician.
Some taxi drivers in Seoul install a TV and glance at it while driving, apparently unhindered by police.
More than 5 500 people were killed in 226 878 auto accidents in South Korea in 2010, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority said.
