On July 1, a car crash at the intersection of Seoul City Hall Station left many people injured or dead. The perpetrator of the accident claimed that sudden unintended acceleration due to vehicle defects caused the accident, saying, “The more I stepped on the brake, the faster the car went.” Sudden unintended acceleration is a phenomenon in which a car is accelerated out of the driver’s control. However, in a briefing on the results of a comprehensive investigation by Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul on Aug. 1, officers concluded that the driver’s careless driving caused the accident.

  Although sudden unintended acceleration was not the cause of the accident, it sparked a surge of interest in the issue among the public. There has also been a sharp increase in cases where drivers involved in traffic accidents claim sudden unintended acceleration. It is reported that a total of 791 suspected sudden unintended acceleration accidents occurred from 2010 to March 2024, according to data from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS).

  However, none of these cases have been officially recognized as sudden unintended acceleration. Of course, the drivers may have used sudden unintended acceleration as an excuse to deny their fault. Nevertheless, there are cases where the driver was found to be not at fault. There is a strong suspicion that a sudden unintended acceleration of the car occurred, but it is difficult for the driver to obtain clear physical evidence personally.

  According to Korea’s current Product Liability Act, consumers, who often lack specialized knowledge, are responsible for proving a vehicle’s malfunction or defect. While many believe that the burden of proof should be placed on manufacturers, it is challenging to implement. Measures to prevent disputes over sudden unintended acceleration are also necessary. Policies such as the mandatory installation of pedal black boxes are crucial for determining the circumstances during a traffic accident.

  Lee Ho-geun, a professor at the Department of Future Automotive at Daeduk University, said, “Although sudden unintended acceleration is not recognized officially, the number of accidents claiming sudden unintended acceleration is increasing, and many people are becoming anxious.” He added, “Measures should be taken to install safety devices that can prevent sudden unintended acceleration and to implement strategies to reduce damage when such accidents occur.”