Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aishiii]

Some things Koreans say about themselves don't jive.

For a country that claims to be 'bballi bballi' I wonder why when the posted speed limit on the expressways is 80 km/hr, 80% seem to be doing 60. Of course there is no 'slow traffic keep to the right' here, so they all tend to clump together and not allow anyone to pass. Or better yet, if you're trying to pass someone and the lane ahead of you is open, there's always that guy who'll change lanes in front of you for no reason, blocking you from continuing on.

I also wonder why, when they have so many models of developed countries to choose from, they can't implement a plan to improve the driving here. Of course this goes for everything, but this post is about driving. I swear, in 20 years it will be the same. It hasn't improved in the last 10 years, so why would things change.

Again, I wonder. I wonder who's in charge. I wonder how they keep their job. I wonder why are Koreans satisfied with the schemozzle that they have here. I wonder what is wrong with their thinking that they can't even stay between two white lines. I've been wondering about a lot of things.

[pkang0202]

Your mistake is thinking idiot drivers are only in Korea. Road rage wasn't invented here.

Bad driving isn't a Korea-only phenomenon.

But there's no use in trying to convince YOU of this. It seems you've already made up your mind in that bad driving only happens here.

[eamo]

The reason nothing is done to improve driving here is because Koreans think, with the exception of a few silly women, that they're great, skillful drivers. Really. They do.

The Korean middle-aged man who constantly changes lanes without indicating, but will stick on his hazard lights every 20 seconds, thinks he's the best driver around.

The Chinese-food delivery guys who break every law of the road every 5 minutes without even remembering what the actual rules are anymore are seen as highly-skilled road warriors by the common Korean. They aren't seen as a negative thing in society! They're actually respected for being able to deliver Ja-jang-myun anywhere in under 15 minutes in any traffic conditions.

The fact that Korea always comes in the top 3 of the world in road deaths per capita is ignored.

[andrewchon]

Isn't that another application of 'must only happen in Korea, just has to'?

[Arthur Dent]

Since we're on the subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYmUYU5gOms

Driver training here - and Asia generally - is limited. Korea has relatively recently experienced a surge in the number of cars on the road. Some roads and cities have not been designed for the kind of traffic they now have, especially for parking.

This is especially true for areas where people are dropped off to shop or catch a bus. Or shop areas with small stores with limited parking. Throw in the Bbali Bbali attitude and the cultural differences/attitudes with regard to public spaces and status (what kind of car you are driving) and this is what you will get. Also differences in law, and enforcement, or lack of it, and this is what you will get.

One of the highest traffic fatality rates in the OECD.

I saved a ladies' life just today. She nearly got run over by a bus and indeed may have if I hadn't warned her. She was crossing against the light when oncoming traffic was lighted to turn left at a three way intersection.

Near this same intersection (another three way) I have seen a number of accidents - actually the aftermath of them. A couple have involved scooters. Three ways seem to be the worst, come to think of it.


It's no wonder the scooters drive on the sidewalk.

I would too, it's much safer.

I've also seen a poor guy on a bicycle crossing on a crosswalk nearly become a messy new fixture on a bus. The bus went through the light at a speed that was 'excessive' to say the least, quite aside from the fact that he was going through the light. The driver blew his horn in an ear shattering blast (I was inside another bus) and just kept going while the poor old guy flattened himself under his bicycle, just barely out of range of the buses wheels. Of course I've seen a number of bone-headed moves by cyclists too.


Other problems are that bus drivers are paid according to the number of trips they make on their route.

Lack of parking or pick up drop off spots leads to double parking - or at least double stopping. Poor signage for exits makes for heart stopping lane changes.

I've seen worse driving elsewhere, particularly Africa, but I have seen a lot better too, in similar conditions, as far as the wealth of a country is concerned and the state of its roads and number of cars.

[aishiii]

[aishiii]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kajEy8Yt-0o&feature=related

This one's better! I've always wanted make videos like this. You're right when you say every time you go out, something happens. I can't even drive to a job 5 minutes away without about a dozen instances happening.

[aishiii]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikPBbNKG87M&feature=related

Actually, this one's pretty good too.

How can you apologists refute this stuff?

[Savant]

I see more idiotic drivers in Korea on a daily basis than I've seen in any other country I've visited. Japan is bliss every time I visit. I can cross the road in Japan on a green pedestrian light without worrying that some guys going to come blazing through the red stop light.

Koreans are just bad drivers: Fact!

The videos posted on this thread could have been filmed on any day with different drivers. The results would always be the same.

[Xuanzang]

[Stalin84]

You know, awhile after I had started driving here I was venting to one of my co-workers about the terrible, insane driving conditions and she said "Korean driving style is very good, very fast. Accidents are not common" followed by "I'm a very bad driver but its okay, I never have an accident here."

I don't know what she was getting at here but it really annoyed me, I really had to bite my tongue. Its like, what part of you doesn't understand that you could easily kill somebody and it would be entirely your fault? Its nothing to joke around about. I guess I can't blame her though. This country has a long way to go in terms of civility and the roads are the perfect example of it.

[dr. love]

The guy in those videos has real anger management issues.

I can't imagine he'd ever post a video of a driving mistake he has made.

Driving here can be a bit hairy at times, but the way mrroadworrier goes about it he's going to give himself a heart attack.

I actually enjoy driving in Seoul. Just avoid it at the busiest times.

[Arthur Dent]

aishiii wrote:

[pkang0202]

[aishiii]