Korean Job Discussion Forums

[freethought]

Felt the need to start this one after yesterday's experience.

Was going back to school with my co-teacher after an open lesson. We're stopped at a red light at a a three way intersection for maybe a minute, when she says "I think this sign doesn't change," at which point she steps on the gas and pulls out into the intersection with what was likely a dozen or more cars heading in both directions, I yell watch out, with my life flashing before my eyes, as a big white SUV slams on its breaks and skids as it tries not to hit us, while others are swerving hard left and right trying not to hit us, then swerving hard again, to miss the cars that had to swerve to miss us from the other direction.--- the 'sign doesn't change' comment was a reference to the red light, and her thinking that the light was always red. I was so shocked and angry that I could barely speak. I wanted to smash her in the head for risking my life with her total idiocy. Seriously, who the F does something like that???

The other gem came the same morning when we went outside to get in her car to go to the open class. The metal storage building attached to the school had both of its doors smashed in and a car had clearly smashed right in to it. My co-teacher explained that the math teacher had 'mistaken the gas for the break.' That explanation makes no sense... Him not paying attention to what gear he was in makes sense (drive or reverse), but what makes even more sense is SOJU.

The other great example later in the day yesterday was the 3 women and 5 children standing in the MIDDLE of the street/lane chatting with a man and his child who were on the sidewalk. Natural selection never seemed so apparent...

What's wrong with these people?

[mrsquirrel]

Korea isn't a patch on Thailand or Mayalysia/

Spend a few years there and you will see the difference.

Where are all the white outlines on the road? Where are the trucks traveling as fast as they can full laden with goods.

Where are the drivers driving the wrong way up the street at a good speed because they don't want to do a uturn

What about the badly maintained buses that catch fire.

Drivers in Korea are a little impatient but otherwise pretty good by other Asian countries.

[freethought]

THIS IS NOT A COMPARATIVE THREAD OF WHAT COUNTRY HAS THE WORST DRIVERS...

IT'S A THREAD TO POST YOUR HORROR STORIES OF DRIVING IN THIS COUNTRY.

[normalcyispasse]

I've accumulated far too many horror stories to recount. How about when I was riding home one night on my ZX7R and going straight through a green light -- and a Bongo truck decided to turn left on red without his lights on right in front of me?

Or when I was riding in the right-hand lane and a taxi in the left hand lane matched pace with me and then began turning right, squishing me between the taxi and a row of cars? I was happy for the oomph of a 750 then (on my GSX-R) as I could just gear down and shoot out of the hole, but had I been on a 125 I very may well have been boned.

Of course, I have actually had a collision here in Korea. I was clipping along straight towards a light when a taxi pulled from the third lane of traffic (straight-bound) -- without signaling -- all the way across two other lanes of traffic to make a U-turn in front of me. I couldn't slow down enough in time and I ended up bashing the cab. I don't remember much more of that evening.

[RACETRAITOR]

I was on my new scooter a couple weekends ago on the way home from some urban exploration. There were three lanes going my way, a parking lane on the right, a middle lane, and a left turn lane. I was in the middle following a car that was going too slow. I swerved left to pass it, when it made a left turn from the middle lane. There was no warning so I jammed on the brakes and slammed into it sideways. The rear tire rolled over my right foot.

The driver jumped out and fortunately knew English very well. He was about my age and handled the situation very well, admitting it was his fault and apologising. His car was scratched up a bit but he didn't mind, and my bike and foot were both fine.

My damage to him:


His damage to me:

[mrsquirrel]

[freethought]

you did, you tard. Last time there was a thread like this you did the same thing: "oh, koreans aren't bad countries X, Y and Z are worse."

The intent of the thread was clear, but because you're either too dumb or too defensive about korean driving you failed to see that. Once again, you've posted off topic. Since you like off topic so much, why don't you go to the off topic forum, maybe you'll manage to stay on topic.

As to my stories not being exciting, then don't read it and don't read the thread, simple solutions, bud.

[RACETRAITOR]

[mrsquirrel]

Link please.

[freethought]

[ca12bon]

From what a native person told me, cars haven't been around for long, especially in Korea. This is mainly due to the fact that our economy wasn't as booming only a couple of decades ago. People just haven't had enough time with cars (in the grand history of time), to really learn the basic manners of driving, unlike western civilizations.

I have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many horror stories
from driving, I couldn't possibly count them, but I do remember a couple.

1) I was driving on the main street when a guy decided to just slam on the accelerator and try to squeeze in front of me, but the funny part is he was parked on the OTHER side of the street. I yelled obscenities cuz it was obviously his fault, and he got so mad he blocked off traffic and decided to confront me. Actually he started swinging, but some other driver got out of the car and held his dumbass back.

2) Taxi drivers... this has happened maybe thousands of times. I'm driving along at a nice speed with the car in front of me not too far in front.
(maybe a cars length). Then the taxi "driver" decides to pull a James Bond stunt, and squeeze his car right in front of mine. At about this time,
without ANY exageration, there is about 5-10 centimeters space in between his car, and my car.

3) Women drivers who DONT look sideways before changing lanes. OMFG
I had a woman driving parallel (sp?) to me, and without turning her head, decides that my lane is a good place for her car to be in, except for the fact that, my car is already there *DUH* *rolls eyes* I mean, wtf?

4) The people who drive RIGHT behind you, really pressuring you to either drive faster than the speed limit, or sometimes if they're in a
hurry, to ignore the RED light and just drive. This has happened numerous times also. I think somehow I psychologically instigate people to be so aggressive.

5) When you're walking down a narrow alley or road, and the car just decides to fly past you at 80km/h, barely just grazing your shirt. The wind
is so strong when he flies by that he almost knocks you over.

6) Last (but not least), people with just bad manners. I mean, they're not even 15 year old kids with learners license, they can be rich men in expensive cars, trucks, bongos, whatever, and you signal for about 1 minute, and nobody lets you in their lane. You literally have to push your car in front, hoping that the person behind you will have the skills to press down on the brakes on time, to avoid a collision.

I know what I've said is harsh, but hey, it's the truth. I let people know it, but only when I'm driving by myself. I actually had an idea a while back, to video tape people driving like retards, and make a mini documentary, but I had to give my digital camera to my mom so now I'm left without the means to video tape these horrific moments.



p.s I forgot one more horrible event Someone decided to ram into my car, when it was PARKED. It was also in the allocated parking space, outside the villa, so whoever did it was blind as a bat. The costs to import the bumper and attach it? 1.0 million. Yay!!!

[kat2]

My favorite happened a month or two after I first arrived in Sparkling Korea when I wasn't that used to the driving.

We came to Busan from another city to visit friends. We give him the apartment name to go to when we get out of the subway station. This is on a very busy 6 lane road. He mutters to himself a bit, then does a U turn. Then he stops and mutters some more. Another U turn. Then he does the same thing again. Thats a donut and a half on busy 6 lane road. I about died.

I have to say that now I am so used to the taxis manouvers that I don't even think about it. I was on vacation recently in Canada and found myself getting frustrated that the taxi drivers were waiting at redlights and generally following traffic laws.

[RACETRAITOR]

[ajgeddes]

[mrsquirrel]