Korean Job Discussion Forums

Suwon4AGT · Joined: 26 Apr 2009

Is not at Everland. It's the 13-2 bus in Suwon. If you are "lucky", you will get the same driver I did. He only managed to knock over the elderlies a dozen times with the slamming on the brakes. He would swerve all over the road and cut in front of dozens of single-cars, just to get a feet ahead of where he was. And if the driver in front of him wasn't going over the speed limit, he would curse at them with the horn blasting non-stop.

To add to my thrill ride, my seat wasn't quite fully attached. So going over every speedbump was like being launched on a trampoline.

I've heard of the crazy busdrivers here, but that guy easily won the prize for king nutjob. I seriously feel bad for the elderlies who need a safe bus service, but have to put up with that kind of treatment. It's hard for me to believe that Korea puts up with and condones that kind of public transportation service.

ajstew · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Location: Korea

I have to say, I've recently noticed an increase in bus driver rule breaking. Many know about the recent accident about 2 weeks ago where a bus driver flattened a little car killing all of the female passengers in it. The driver claimed his breaks failed, but I believe he was sentenced and found guilty.

This, to me, seems to have been bound to happen as bus drivers have more recently been breaking more road laws than usual as they make their stops. It really has been getting on my nerves. They frequently drive through red lights. This isn't when the light was yellow and turning red... this is when the light has been red for a while.

They also always try to cut into lanes whether they have position or not on the cars beside them. Just this past Saturday, while driving on the main expressway out of seoul from Gangnam to Suwon, I happened to drive past 2 separate accidents where buses had been involved in collisions with other cars.

Also, just this past week, I was waiting for a light to change and was first to go, when a bus pulls up to the left of me (for cars making a left turn) so that he could try to blast past me (which he did). What bothered me the most about that (besides it being dangerous) was that is was completely unnecessary since his stop was about 100 meters up the road, where he'd have to pull over to the right side of the road. Of course, I passed him at that time and gave him a honk, because his move made no sense whatsoever.

So my question is, why are these bus drivers breaking so many rules? Driving public transportation, shouldn't they be bound to the rules of the public? All I can imagine is that when bus drivers complete their route, they must get a coffee break before their next starts, so I'm thinking that maybe they are trying to complete their routes faster is to get extended coffee breaks and down time. I don't know. Something needs to be done though, because some of these bus drivers are out of control.

Joe666 · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Location: Jesus it's hot down here!

I'm in Busan and it's the same here. Every ride is an adventure. I have seen people get out of their seat at the wrong time and fly away. If I am standing up, I take a serious wide stance for stability. Remember, Koreans haven't been driving for very long. I doubt anything you say or do in reporting the bus drivers will make any difference. Enjoy the ride!

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

In terms of bus rides, the scariest has to be the 12-hour Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap bus!

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

No, I beg to differ. The scariest is riding up the side of some godforsaken mountain side in Pusan with Mr. Kim behind the wheel on the way to dinner at his sister's restaurant when a bus comes down the mountain in your lane.

Robot_Teacher · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Location: Robotting Around the World

How come they can't keep their lane when going into curves on mountain roads you can't see past? This is risky driving. I was always accustomed to driving the vehicle; not letting it drift into the other lane and approaching turns too fast you can see around due to big rocks.

3MB · Joined: 26 Mar 2009

Bus drivers are vile pieces of garbage.

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

Save money on the everland trip and just spend the weekend in Jinju riding the buses. 90% chance that each and every bus will be an adventure. For more fun take 2 bags of stuff from Emart with you and try to hold on.

AmericanExile · Joined: 04 May 2009

Once my driver went around a turn so fast to beat the traffic that the tires on one side lifted off the road. There was a moment it was unclear if they'd go back down or it would flip.

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

It's these kinds of things that make me wish the Japanese were still in control of this country. The Japanese could have taught the Koreans so much more in terms of following rules, being good citizens, etc etc.

thrylos · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

HAHAHA

My first year and a half in Korea I rode the 13-2 bus to school every morning in rush hour for a good 30 minutes. Wow...brings back some crazy memories.

poet13 · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

The road from Darjeeling. Wet slick roads. Shiny treadless tires. Brakes the drunk driver has to frantically pump to make work. Now there's a ride.

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

Buses are a friggin' nightmare in this country. I have sworn never again never, ever again.

Crowded, noisy, smelly places that constantly slam to a halt, throwing everyone forward, drift all over the road and may or may not have killed three pedestrians 20 yards back.

I'll stick with the slightly less insane taxis and train service.

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

Last night did Busan-nopo-Dong to Samcheok in 4 hours exactly. With a 20 minute break. So, how fast was he going?