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Korean Drivers - how can they seem so dense ??
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IlIlNine



Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know ...

It's not all that bad, I think.

I ride a bike here, I walk, I ride a motorcycle, and I also have a car and drive regularly and have been for a few years now.

My major pet-peeve is people making illegal left turns in front of me while I'm on my motorbike. This is somewhat understandable, because *usually* for them it's okay, but my motorbike is faster and harder to see than any car, and I've had a couple close calls that way.

U-turns are also similar, but it's easier to tell when someone's gonna try one.

When I'm in my car though, I have few problems. Sure, there are the guys that are over-the-top aggressive. Let them by. There are the Chobos, going 60km/h on the highway... annoying, but there's usually a way around them.

Actually, I like the Chobos. While they usually hold up traffic for miles behind them, they're always easy to zip in front of when wanting to merge into a lane. If it weren't for them, it'd be a lot harder!

I'm pretty chill in the car these days though... I save the hooliganism for the motorbike.

I think the key to civilized driving is getting a TV in your car. The problem for us is that we've been taught to pay too much attention on the road, and thus notice every stupid thing that happens. If you're only half-paying attention to where you're going, you're gonna arrive a lot calmer than you would have otherwise.
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talltony4



Joined: 09 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IlIlNine wrote:

I think the key to civilized driving is getting a TV in your car.



Wow, I never thought of it that way before. Actually I was kinda upset that Korea allows drivers to watch TV, but now you mention it it could reduce road rage and impulsive decisions. WOW!
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Whistleblower



Joined: 03 Feb 2007

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw a real gross accident just 2 miles away from the Seoul Interchange, when I was heading back to Bundang from a weekend trip with my family.

Well what did I see when I was traveling back home, some guy in a foreign sports car racing past all the traffic and combing through the traffic. Left, right, left, right and then he was out of view. A few minutes later I saw the same driver and his car was smashed to bits. He must have been doing 180~200 kms and hour and was stopped suddenly when he went in to a truck. His car was a wreck and he was all over the road. He head was smashed and there were body parts all over the road. It was real messy and the guy was obviously dead.

The guys in an ambulance had just turned up and they were flagging all the drivers to go around.

I am a driver here but there is no way in hell that I would drive like a maniac in Korea. I want to live for a long time and not have the feeling to tonne it down the motorway. Bugger that.

Another incident that I enjoy is when there is a traffic jam on the highway some Koreans think that they can go down the hard shoulder. Why? It is dangerous and sometimes cars stop on the hard shoulder. Just dangerous.



I usually get in 3 near misses each day but have yet to encounter any accident involving me and another driver. I stop at red lights, let pedestrians pass when there is a green light for pedestrians and also give way to drivers but I get some real angry honks from other drivers when I am a law abiding driver. I sometimes wind down my window and wave at them and smile. Just makes them angry even more though.
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IlIlNine



Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

talltony4 wrote:
IlIlNine wrote:

I think the key to civilized driving is getting a TV in your car.



Wow, I never thought of it that way before. Actually I was kinda upset that Korea allows drivers to watch TV, but now you mention it it could reduce road rage and impulsive decisions. WOW!


Food for thought!

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2007/07/stories/08/1.html
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Zenas



Joined: 17 May 2008

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm seriously considering getting a cctv / video for my car to record the Korean driving. It would make for great YouTube.
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maddog



Joined: 08 Dec 2005
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How's this for a blanket racist generalisation:

Asians can't drive. They shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel. They are oblivious to the existance of other road users. They actually believe that constantly yoyo-ing the throttle saves gas. They brake at the last possilbe minute, often misjudging and hitting the vehicle in front.

Someone said the pedestrians have right of way in Korea. On paper, maybe. In reality, it's simply not true. Name another country where police officers ticket peope for J-walking, yet turn a blind eye to people driving motorbikes on the pavement. Just think about that for a second. In a supposedly developed country, it's actually okay to drive a motorbike on the pavement Confused .

Korea Sparkling
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WoBW



Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: HBC

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ardis wrote:
I agree that the driving here is pretty damn scary, but what I *don't* understand is how I rarely see any car accidents!!! At home, I saw car accidents on a daily basis--there were always huge traffic problems because of them and you could see the cars flipped over. Here, I've seen like...one traffic accident, and yet the driving is so bad. I don't get it?


Same here, I hardly ever see accidents and I can't understand why.

One I did see though, I was walking home across Yeongdong Bridge one night when I heard a huge bang from the other side of the road. I turned just inn time to see an SUV come to a halt sideways across the road, blocking 2 of the three lanes. The guy had hit the V-shaped barrier at the turn off. This was a nasty accident - the guy was probably doing 60-80. The car kept going into reverse and out again the brake lights were on and off. This car was totally immobile.

The traffic was quite heavy and now at a standstill, but do you think anyone got out of their car to check and see if the occupants of the car were okay, maybe tried to help? Nope, everyone was just selfishly laying on their horns and trying to be first through the 3/4 of a lane gap that wasn't blocked. Disgraceful! Shocked

On another note, what's up with people (usually taxi drivers) dipping their headlights when they stop at a red light? And what's up with taxi drivers being so reluctant to use their windscreen wipers when it rains? They'd rather drive on with shit visibility. Rolling Eyes
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Scotticus



Joined: 18 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ardis wrote:
I agree that the driving here is pretty damn scary, but what I *don't* understand is how I rarely see any car accidents!!! At home, I saw car accidents on a daily basis--there were always huge traffic problems because of them and you could see the cars flipped over. Here, I've seen like...one traffic accident, and yet the driving is so bad. I don't get it?


It says you're in Seoul, so I'd take that into account if I were you. In my case, I attribute the (seemingly) low number of accidents to the fact that people here are driving slower than where I'm from. (At home) I'm out in the suburbs where everyone is going 50(mph)+ because of major roads and highways, thus people have less time to react, whereas in the city it's often impossible to drive any faster than 30 (due to frequent lights, traffic, etc).
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earthbound14



Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can write this in a number of ways.

Laws aren't enforced so there are a lot of aggressive and bad drivers who do stupid shit. Ripping through red lights without looking, driving way too fast, cutting in without signalling, driving buses like they are sports cars....


There are a lot of drivers who don't get enough training and do stupid shit. Turn without warning because they are about to miss their turn, stop without warning and start backing up because they missed their turn, turn into traffic without looking because they are watching the TV ililnine wants to get

or you could say that because there are so many maniacs and retards on the road....a majority of Koreans are actually really good drivers and it's us who suck, because we can't handle the crazies.......

My favourite driving experiences

Riding my motorcycle, car turns into my lane starting to pin me between them and a bus...I honk...driver veers, seems surprised, then checks me out in the mirror....goes right back and pins me between the bus and his SUV....At 80km/h I either slow down and get out of dodge, or speed up, bang on the hood and put a nice big dent and then hammer on....I punch the car...assshole

Driving my car...driving along the highway and come around a corner to find a car full of a Korean familly and Dad is backing up.....80-100km/h traffic on a blind bend and this winner of the Darwin award is backing up because he missed his turn..............brake, swerve, horn.....thank god a car wasn't in the lane I had to swerve into, didn't have time to do anything else.

walking, green signal at a cross walk and red light for the cars....all cars are stopped. I signal the only oncoming car that I'm crossing the street and step onto the street, he waves (you know that polite wave that says "hey please let me through, I'm sorry" but really means "i'm comin..look out") and continues through rather than stop...so again a swift punch on the car....idiot.

The worst of course is the no look turn into traffic from a side road. I hate this one. I once turned my bike around in traffic, rode back through traffic and yelled at a guy who almost hit me, again the polite "I'm sorry wave" while he hides his face...I'm so sick of I'm sorry......


be aware when you walk, ride, drive in Korea.

Some very unexpected and stupid things will happen here....and I haven't even told you about the gang of suped up tow trucks near my house that race around every friday night at 80-120km/h through red lights (no slowing or looking) sirens blazing and lights flashing....truly one for the WTF category.
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esetters21



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ardis wrote:
I agree that the driving here is pretty damn scary, but what I *don't* understand is how I rarely see any car accidents!!! At home, I saw car accidents on a daily basis--there were always huge traffic problems because of them and you could see the cars flipped over. Here, I've seen like...one traffic accident, and yet the driving is so bad. I don't get it?


Laughing I have been hit in low speed accidents twice in the last 6 months. Both times I demanded that the insurance companies were called, as I knew it to be clearly the other driver at fault. Both times they were and the other drivers insurance picked up the tab on the repairs.

Funny story on the last one; sort of. The ajjuma that drove right into the side of my car tried to make a run for it. I tracked her down quickly. The police were called. They flat out told me to go home. I said no, call the insurance company. She continued to play ignorant the whole time. I saw things going badly, so I called up the gf. We went back to the scene of the accident at that time and I described what happened. The insurance guy gave me the thumbs up. They picked my car up 2 days later and repaired and returned it to me within 2 days. Long story short; my car is a '97 Tiburon that has had almost an entirely new paint job put on it in the last several months due to these accidents. Very Happy
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tob55



Joined: 29 Apr 2007

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:36 am    Post subject: My dream job Reply with quote

I would like to somehow talk the local police into allowing me to be the camera guy around our area giving tickets to the idiots driving around. I understand those guys do alright and they simply spend their day taking pictures of people speeding. I know it is a cut throat type of work, but heck, why not. I bet the number of people around our area could net me an additional 3 mil every month just for part time work. That's how bad and reckless the drivers are around our area on the way to Chuncheon.
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Katchafire



Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Location: Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would never drive here ... and yes, as pointed out already, walking is pretty much taking your life into your own hands - as is crossing the street, walking the pavement - or even shopping with a cart/trolly.
What does bug the bejesus out of me ... is the way many bus and taxi drivers accelerate - then take their foot off - then accelerate - foot off .. etc etc.
Honestly, its like being the cox on a rowboat. Rolling Eyes
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IlIlNine



Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

earthbound14 wrote:

There are a lot of drivers who don't get enough training and do stupid shit. Turn without warning because they are about to miss their turn, stop without warning and start backing up because they missed their turn, turn into traffic without looking because they are watching the TV ililnine wants to get


Heh heh ... I don't know about you, but I got south park and robot chicken playing when I'm not thumpin' the tunes. I just don't worry about it anymore when I'm driving.

On the motorbike... well, you know the deal as well as anyone. Survival of the fittest and luckiest.
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earthbound14



Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IlIlNine wrote:
earthbound14 wrote:

There are a lot of drivers who don't get enough training and do stupid shit. Turn without warning because they are about to miss their turn, stop without warning and start backing up because they missed their turn, turn into traffic without looking because they are watching the TV ililnine wants to get


Heh heh ... I don't know about you, but I got south park and robot chicken playing when I'm not thumpin' the tunes. I just don't worry about it anymore when I'm driving.

On the motorbike... well, you know the deal as well as anyone. Survival of the fittest and luckiest.


My new favourite story

My friend the driving instructor "We don't shoulder check in Korea, we don't teach it"
me - "Why not?"
Him - he laughs, surprised at my stupidity "We don't need to do it in Korea!"
I shake my head, wishing I could smack him and say "What? the laws of physics don't apply in Korea? the blind spot just magically disappears?"

I imagine the rest of the conversation goes like this
Him "There's no blind spot"
me "Yes there is, there is a spot where your mirror doesn't cover and you need to turn your head to make sure there are no cars."
Him "No, see I can see the whole mirror"
Me "No, a spot that the mirror does not show"
Him "No there isn't"
Me "Yes there isn't"
Him "Not in Korea!"
Me "It's not a matter of nationality."
Him "We don't have this problem in Korea, if we did, I would teach it."
Me "you do have this problem and you should teach it"
Him "no we don't"
Me "yes you do"
Him "Just relax, things are different in Korea"
Me "yes, I know, but there are no differences between any country when it comes to a blind spot and shoulder checking....it is universal"
Him "well not in Korea"
Me "Korea has some of the worst driving in the developed world"
Him "yes, so?"
Me "well, don't you think that if you shoulder checked there would be fewer accidents?"
Him "if it was a problem I would teach it. I don't teach it, so it isn't a problem"
Me - draw gun, realize guns are illegal in Korea, so I draw a knife and prepare to save the world....Knife raises...ready...
Him "You're so funny, Let's eat some Samgyup sal and soju!!"
Me "right.....I'm buying"
Him "No, I am"
............

Sometimes I feel like the straight man in a 24 hour comedy show......
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