Korea does not have the best roads in the world, despite the fantastic amount of road building and maintenance that is being undertaken by the country's government. There are too few roads and too many vehicles. So much so that on a Sunday afternoon anybody driving into Seoul from rural Korea can conservatively double the time of their trip and knit a sweater on the way.
While much of Asia suffers from this modern day vehicular traffic curse, Korea augments it with the penchant for speed, and cart pushers and pedestrians who seem oblivious to the fact that the bus they stepped out in front of is not going to stop.
For the most part this situation has arisen because of Korea's sudden growth as an economic power. While most in the west grew up with the motor car and with its associated evils, Koreans did not. It has an infant driving culture but a modern, fully developed vehicle base. What would happen if all of California's cars instantly transformed into NASCARS and all of its motorcycles carried paylods?
Knowing all of this, however, doesn't help to drive here. Neither do the official road rules much. What is needed to drive successfully in Korea is a deep understanding of the norms of the driving culture. That is you need to know how to drive as a Korean.
20 KOREAN DRIVING NORMS
1. Never, ever slow down when lights begin to change color.
2. Change lanes at every available opportunity.
3. When a pedestrian is about to step onto the road change into the right-hand land.
4. Use your cell phone at all times (hands free kits are slowly eroding this one).
5. Tailgate.
6. Slow down so the driver behind you can tailgate.
7. At pedestrian crossing only stop after you have passed any pedestrians so they have to walk around your car.
8. If possible do use the sidewalks while doing U-turns.
9. Never maintain a steady speed, you should speed up, then brake, then speed up then brake...
10. Remember that the number of lanes on a road can be multiplied by a factor of 1.5. Use this knowledge!
Go To Page: 1 2
