|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:18 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| northway wrote: |
| atwood wrote: |
Yes and no, I think drivers in other developed countries have greater recognition that you need to adjust to the conditions. Laws that require you to turn on your headlights when it rains help to alert drivers as well.
The news reports said that there was a warning sign before the bridge telling drivers to slow to 50kph, but who in Korea pays attention to signs like that? The lack of police enforcement of traffic laws plays a big part too.
The footage from cars involved in the wrecks did show a car or two going slowly, and I hope they were able to avoid the accident.
But for the most part I agree with your post. leave earlier when the weather is bad just does not seem to compute for many here. |
Largely agreed, but I do think Koreans are much better about hitting their hazards when in a traffic jam, something I don't see often enough in North America (though to be fair, this may be tied to the fact that Korean drivers will totally nail you if you don't, and you'll be partially responsible given Korean traffic laws). I'll also say that I've seen far more cars without their lights on at night, let alone in the rain, in Atlanta than I have anywhere in Asia (though Koreans can be bad about this as well).
I really think people respond to whatever level of police enforcement is in effect - in the States, you can get away with never using a turn signal in much of the South, so people don't. You try that shit in New York or Massachusetts and you're getting a ticket. Korea's cops need to get up off their asses. |
I've never seen the point of using hazard lights when all you are doing is braking on the highway. Drivers can see ahead of them and act accordingly. Besides, in Korea, if you've driven a certain highway once, you know when and where you're going to run into traffic.
You really shouldn't need your turn signal all that often if you're merging into traffic properly or changing lanes correctly or in dedicated turn lane. There are definitely times though when it makes it easier for other drivers to predict what you are going to do.
Koreans, IME, usually use their turn signals to cut others off and not all that often when making an actual turn. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| atwood wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| atwood wrote: |
Yes and no, I think drivers in other developed countries have greater recognition that you need to adjust to the conditions. Laws that require you to turn on your headlights when it rains help to alert drivers as well.
The news reports said that there was a warning sign before the bridge telling drivers to slow to 50kph, but who in Korea pays attention to signs like that? The lack of police enforcement of traffic laws plays a big part too.
The footage from cars involved in the wrecks did show a car or two going slowly, and I hope they were able to avoid the accident.
But for the most part I agree with your post. leave earlier when the weather is bad just does not seem to compute for many here. |
Largely agreed, but I do think Koreans are much better about hitting their hazards when in a traffic jam, something I don't see often enough in North America (though to be fair, this may be tied to the fact that Korean drivers will totally nail you if you don't, and you'll be partially responsible given Korean traffic laws). I'll also say that I've seen far more cars without their lights on at night, let alone in the rain, in Atlanta than I have anywhere in Asia (though Koreans can be bad about this as well).
I really think people respond to whatever level of police enforcement is in effect - in the States, you can get away with never using a turn signal in much of the South, so people don't. You try that shit in New York or Massachusetts and you're getting a ticket. Korea's cops need to get up off their asses. |
I've never seen the point of using hazard lights when all you are doing is braking on the highway. Drivers can see ahead of them and act accordingly. Besides, in Korea, if you've driven a certain highway once, you know when and where you're going to run into traffic.
You really shouldn't need your turn signal all that often if you're merging into traffic properly or changing lanes correctly or in dedicated turn lane. There are definitely times though when it makes it easier for other drivers to predict what you are going to do.
Koreans, IME, usually use their turn signals to cut others off and not all that often when making an actual turn. |
Koreans are terrible drivers, no argument there. I was just using turn signals as an example of how enforcement affects driving habits, not getting into their relative use between the States and Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| northway wrote: |
| atwood wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| atwood wrote: |
Yes and no, I think drivers in other developed countries have greater recognition that you need to adjust to the conditions. Laws that require you to turn on your headlights when it rains help to alert drivers as well.
The news reports said that there was a warning sign before the bridge telling drivers to slow to 50kph, but who in Korea pays attention to signs like that? The lack of police enforcement of traffic laws plays a big part too.
The footage from cars involved in the wrecks did show a car or two going slowly, and I hope they were able to avoid the accident.
But for the most part I agree with your post. leave earlier when the weather is bad just does not seem to compute for many here. |
Largely agreed, but I do think Koreans are much better about hitting their hazards when in a traffic jam, something I don't see often enough in North America (though to be fair, this may be tied to the fact that Korean drivers will totally nail you if you don't, and you'll be partially responsible given Korean traffic laws). I'll also say that I've seen far more cars without their lights on at night, let alone in the rain, in Atlanta than I have anywhere in Asia (though Koreans can be bad about this as well).
I really think people respond to whatever level of police enforcement is in effect - in the States, you can get away with never using a turn signal in much of the South, so people don't. You try that shit in New York or Massachusetts and you're getting a ticket. Korea's cops need to get up off their asses. |
I've never seen the point of using hazard lights when all you are doing is braking on the highway. Drivers can see ahead of them and act accordingly. Besides, in Korea, if you've driven a certain highway once, you know when and where you're going to run into traffic.
You really shouldn't need your turn signal all that often if you're merging into traffic properly or changing lanes correctly or in dedicated turn lane. There are definitely times though when it makes it easier for other drivers to predict what you are going to do.
Koreans, IME, usually use their turn signals to cut others off and not all that often when making an actual turn. |
Koreans are terrible drivers, no argument there. I was just using turn signals as an example of how enforcement affects driving habits, not getting into their relative use between the States and Korea. |
Got it.
I've only driven through Massachusetts but I did drive a bit in New York and never noticed any strict enforcement regarding turn signals. I do know that it's against the law there to make a right on a red--or used to be--and lots of people from out of state get ticketed for that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Died By Bear
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Texas cops are very anal about using signals.
As an aside, if you're ever driving through Texas, especially on any hwy or country roads, you'll notice a lot of people will put on their turn signal about 1/2 a mile to a 1/4 mile before they actually make the turn, then they'll go off on the shoulder and drive the shoulder till their actual turn. They do this as a courtesy to drivers behind them that don't want to slow down for the guy turning off the road. It's a bit off-putting when you first experience it, but after living here for 3 years, I completely understand why they do it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ^ That's interesting. That's how it's done on the toll roads in Japan; the folks taking congested off-ramps into congested traffic don't want to block the expressway traffic. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ralph Winfield
Joined: 23 Apr 2013
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 11:04 am Post subject: Nah |
|
|
| cj1976 wrote: |
| You need to find other ways to amuse yourself, because this is your weakest Korea bash yet. Accidents like this happen everywhere. It's hard to see how this is the fault of an entire country. Tool. |
South Korea and all other Asian nations are notorious for having a disproportionately high number of unsafe-at-any-speed drivers. This, I think, is common knowledge. Insurance companies in America used to automatically charge F.O.B. Asians more for policies. With this in mind, the O.P.'s not really guilty of being politically incorrect.
RW |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sister Ray
Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Location: Fukuoka
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: Nah |
|
|
| Ralph Winfield wrote: |
South Korea and all other Asian nations are notorious for having a disproportionately high number of unsafe-at-any-speed drivers. |
In my experience, living in both Eastern and Western countries, people always complain about the drivers in their specific location.
"The drivers here are really bad."
Conclusion: Drivers everywhere tend towards obnoxious, selfish behaviour. Something about the insular experience of sitting in your own private metal box liberates one from the feeling of obligation or respect towards those with whom you share a street. It's okay if I park on this sidewalk, I'm just popping into the 7-eleven. It's fine if I run this red light, I'm too important to wait 2 minutes.
Steel Rails will, of course, think this is just my burning jealousy at not being able to afford a car. But, for me, the rise of private motor vehicles is one of the most damaging mistakes of the 20th century. It's totally destroyed the urban form of most new world cities. Compare Vienna to Atlanta? Which form do you prefer? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Given the sheer number of cars on the roads in korea it would probably take only a minute or two to get a 100-car pile-up.
Somewhere like e.g. the outback of Australia though you'd be waiting days for 100 vehicles to drive by, let alone crash into eachother. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ralph Winfield
Joined: 23 Apr 2013
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tailgating seems like the culprit in the bridge pile-up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Nah |
|
|
|
| | |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
