However, the percentage of pedestrian deaths in traffic accidents, which is a high indicator in countries with relatively low traffic safety, is 38.9% (as of 2019), which is still the highest among OECD member states, and specifically, as of 2020, out of a total of 1,093 traffic accident deaths while crossing the road, 628 (57.5%) were elderly.362) This ratio continues to rise from 50.5% in 2016 to 56.6% in 2018 and 57.5% in 2020.363) Considering Korea's high proportion of the elderly,364) even comparing the death toll from traffic accidents per 100,000 people over the age of 65, as of 2019, it was 19.8, more than twice as high as the average of 7.6 OECD member countries, and is the highest level among OECD member states for about 10 years since 2010.365) These indicators show that the number of elderly traffic accidents in Korea is frequent, and in the event of an accident, the degree of damage is serious, leading to death in many cases. A protection zone for the elderly is one of the leading measures to prevent traffic accidents for the elderly. The elderly protection zone is a system introduced in 2008 to ensure the safe passage of elderly pedestrians. When a mayor designates a certain area of the road, the passage of vehicles restricted or prohibited (traffic or parking is prohibited, speed limit is lowered, etc.). However, as of 2021, there are 2,673 elderly protection zones, which are relatively small compared to 16,759 child protection zones,366) and the regional differences seem to be large, such as Chungnam (692), Chungbuk (322), Seoul (175), Busan (85), and Sejong (6).367) On April 7, the NHRCK expressed its opinion to the Speaker of the National Assembly to prepare a regulation limiting the speed of passage within the elderly protection zone to 30 km or less and requiring priority installation of facilities and equipment for traffic safety, as well as mandatory installation requests. Moreover, it was decided to recommend to the Minister 362) Inter-Ministry (MOIS, MOLIT, OGPC, NPA), ‘Measures on Traffic Accident Mortality 2021,’ Mar. 25, 2021. 363) Looking at the number of traffic accident mortality age group for OECD member states, in Korea, the elderly aged 65 and over accounted for 44.5% of all traffic deaths, higher than the average of OECD member states (28.1%) and second only to Japan (57.3%). 364) As of 2020, the elderly population aged 65 or older in Korea is 8.15 mil., accounting for 15.7% of the total population. 365) According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority's ‘Comparison of Traffic Accidents in OECD Member States’ (Dec. 2021), among the 36 OECD member states as of 2019, the number of deaths per 100,000 people in Korea was 6.5, the 10th highest, and the number of deaths per 10,000 vehicles is 1.2, which is the 5th highest. 366) Chosun Ilbo, School Zone is managed minutely ... but the Silver Zone is being neglected, Jun. 6, 2022. 367) Busan Ilbo, The elderly pedestrian traffic accidents in Busan is the highest in the country, Sep. 15, 2022. 155