From Jumping the Asymptote:
There are definite differences in the Tao of Driving between the USA and Korea. In America, the rules of the road dictate our behavior. Drivers follow most of the rules most of the time. In the USA I’m always irritated when a car changes lanes or turns without signaling first, because it doesn’t happen relatively often. I can effectively predict the driving behavior of most of the drivers around me most of the time, and this gives me a sense of understanding and control over my environment: the car in front of me is in the outside lane, and is slowing with his signal on, so I know he’s about to turn off onto a side street. The car with the hazard lights on wants me to notice it because it’s doing something a little unusual (slowing down in the fast lane, parked in a potentially dangerous place, etc).
In contrast, Koreans do not feel compelled to follow the traffic rules (according to the law, pedestrians have the right of way at a crosswalk, but have you ever seen a driver respect that?), for a number of reasons. Their driving behavior is less predictable. Because they don’t know what the other drivers are going to do, I think Korean drivers have a greater awareness of their environment. American drivers have rules and expect the rules to protect them (nobody turns left from the right-hand lane on a multiple-lane road, right?). Korean drivers don’t rely on (or follow) rules, just what they can see (i.e. anyone may do anything at any time, so a driver must be vigilant).
I’m not saying one way is better (and I certainly was trained in the American way), just that they are different. And I’m a little afraid to drive in Korea because I think my American training may be inadequate to drive here.
At Jumping the Asymptote, a reader writes:
I also think another factor is that Korea became a country of drivers much later than the US and other western countries. The reason I think this affects people’s driving habits is because in the west developed driving infrastructure and laws over a far longer period of time, and new developments were brought in for specific reasons; speed limits when cars became fast enough to cause a lot of injuries. The seminal cheap mass-produced car, the Model T Ford, was first produced in 1908. If we take that as a starting point, the west has had a century to develop good driving habits, create and develop laws that are effective and are brought in because the general consensus is that they’re needed, and basically develop a good driving mentality. In Korea, on the other hand, they picked up the laws, infrastructure and, well, cars, all in one fell swoop in terms of the general population. So, when they first came in, they had no relevance to what people knew or had experienced, they didn’t have so much time to develop rules to match the state of the driving culture as that developed, people just suddenly were driving. I think this has to have something to do with it.
I think he’s on to something. If we think about the history of US legislation regarding traffic safety, It was about 60 years before we had a national speed limit, 10 more for a national seat belt law, and 25 more before we had strict carseat laws for kids. All of those laws came from civic groups advocating for them. Korea has the highest traffic fatality rate in the OECD, and it is likely that they’ve been driving for the least amount of time in the OECD too.
26/06/2009 at 9:01 am Permalink
“I’m not saying one way is better (and I certainly was trained in the American way), just that they are different. ”
I think you are trying to play it too safe here. One way is much better; in the US it’s safer, less full of rage, and it respects pedestrians much more. The driving in Korea is simply too dangerous and careless compared to the United States. Even the police enforcement of poor driving is a joke.
26/06/2009 at 12:51 pm Permalink
But Korean driving practices have changed IMMENSELY over the past 20 years according to my observation. If you want to see how bad it used to be, come to China.
26/06/2009 at 5:09 pm Permalink
Hi Dirk, love your movies. I wanted to clarify that when I say “way” I mean “relying on laws to protect you and trusting that drivers will follow them” vs. “relying on your powers of observation alone to protect you, and not trusting other drivers at all.”
I think the USA has better regulations and better enforcement, which is likely why they have less fatalities per 100,000 people.
Taemin, I spent a month in China a year ago, in a medium sized city, and while the driving (and jaywalking) was a bit more reckless, I didn’t think it was a huge difference…maybe I just got lucky, though. I don’t know. I do remember the buses were all driven as if the driver was qualifying for the Indy 500.
26/06/2009 at 9:23 pm Permalink
Ya, I bet you love Dirk Diggler’s movies, don’t ya! …….ha ha ha ha
Anyways, nice to see you back participating on the forums. What’s new with you? Where ya been? Long time no see….
Tony, do you drive in Korea? If so, what is it you drive? Can’t blame you if you don’t.
I find driving here very stressful as many people seem to disregard the traffic signals and put peoples lives in absolute jeopordy. I can just imagine the day I get in a car accident and get blamed for it even though it wasn’t my fault. It seems the person with the loudest voice wins the battle. And if you’re a foreigner, you can forget about being treated fairly as “you obviously don’t know how to drive in Korea.”
Aisheee…..
26/06/2009 at 11:09 pm Permalink
Finals week was three weeks ago, grading week was last week, and last weekend I was in Jeju with the girlfriend, so I’ve been busy.
I drive a 2004 Daelim Delfino. No cars for me. Koreans have a “blame sharing” formula for apportioning damage in an accident that means even if you were idling at a stoplight in your Kia when you were broadsided by a $100,000 Mercedes, you’re going to be paying for 40% of the damage to his car, which may be eight times the value of yours.
26/06/2009 at 11:15 pm Permalink
That “blame sharing” formula sucks! I pray to God that I’m never involved in an accident here. Just getting my insurance company to come to the scene of the accident without them hanging up on me would be a miracle. I have a hard enough time ordering pizza to my apartment, nevermind getting the car insurance company to send a man to the scene of the accident on some street I don’t know the name of.
I’ve had nightmares of that situation!
27/06/2009 at 12:03 am Permalink
In contrast, Koreans do not feel compelled to follow the traffic rules (according to the law, pedestrians have the right of way at a crosswalk, but have you ever seen a driver respect that?)
Yes, I have. Quite often, as a matter of fact. I have also experienced taxi drivers and bongo truck drivers stopping – and blocking traffic – in order to let me jaywalk when they saw me waiting at the side of the road. I would be very interested in seeing a comparison of traffic patterns across the entire country to see how well observations made in Seoul apply to other regions. I’m not saying that everyone outside the capital is a saint and follows the rules to a “T”, but I do hope I’m not the only person in all of Korea who has seen motorists give pedestrians the right of way.
Because they don’t know what the other drivers are going to do, I think Korean drivers have a greater awareness of their environment. American drivers have rules and expect the rules to protect them (nobody turns left from the right-hand lane on a multiple-lane road, right?).
This is an excellent point. Related to this, from what I’ve read there doesn’t appear to be much difference in accident rates between highways with speed limits and those without. (With the possible exception of light trucks.) Greater awareness and the belief that one should pay more attention while driving are reasons I often see given for this phenomenon.
27/06/2009 at 10:28 am Permalink
A 2004 Daelim Delfino is a scooter, right?
27/06/2009 at 10:54 am Permalink
Samedi: You’re right that there is little difference in accident rates, but there is a significant difference in fatalities. Quite literally, speed kills.
Pocariboy73: That’s right! No cars for me. Another oddity of the Korean system is a kind of hierarchy of blame based on vehicle. If a pedestrian is hit, it is always the fault of the vehicle. Then comes bicycles, then scooters/motorcycles, then cars. So if I’m in an accident with a car on my scooter, I’m not going to be paying. I also may not be living, but that’s another discussion entirely. So in actuality, I guess I’ve increased my risk of injury in order to lower my financial risk.
Huh.
27/06/2009 at 11:43 am Permalink
Tony,
Is there a new law coming into effect regarding driver’s licensing for scooters? As it stands now, anything under 125cc just requires just a car license – not a seperate motorbike license. However, I’ve heard that starting 2010 the laws wil change and even people who drive scooters will require a driver’s license for motorbikes.
I have a 125cc Daelim Forte scooter. I have to have a plate and insurance. Next year I might have to have a motorbike license too. When I had my 50cc scooter, all I needed was my car license – no plate or insurance needed. But I think starting next year 50cc scooters will require one to have a motorbiker license too, but not a plate or insurance.
Do you know anything about this?
27/06/2009 at 12:34 pm Permalink
No new law that I’m aware of. My bike (100cc) has no plates. You’re right that a regular license is all that is required.
27/06/2009 at 4:22 pm Permalink
I found this link regarding the new law for motorcyles/scooters under 125cc:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/01/14/2009011461016.html
Motorcycle Drivers Required to Sit Test
The National Police Agency said Tuesday it will require motorcycle drivers to acquire a two-wheeler driving license from next year to cut motorcycle accidents.
The current traffic laws allows owners of a passenger car driving license to ride a 125 cc motorcycle or under without extra education, and only a Class B small vehicle license is required for those who drive one bigger than 125 cc engine.
Since 95 percent of the motorcycles in the market have engines under 125 cc, it appears that holders of passenger car licenses cause most motorcycle accidents because they never learned to ride a motorcycle. The death toll in motorcycle accidents nationwide was 528 in 2007.
30/06/2009 at 1:38 am Permalink
For the most part I ride my motorcycles as much as I can simply because it’s the fastest way to get around, other than being on a toll road which still chaps my ass that I can’t ride on. On self-incriminating myself, I like to split lanes, white line blow through lights or get to the head of the line at lights and speed. I usually ride 80 to 90 mph on my Harleys (have a chopper and a big touring bike) on the highways and I love the anarchy of it all. The thing I like is Koreans will see motorcycles and scooters more because there’s so many here and they look out for you since the “fault” laws of this country. In the US of A or Canada people will run your ass over and not even see you until it’s too late because they don’t look for you. I’ve luckily lived through two accidents (back home in Texas) without too much damage by people whom I could plainly see their faces with them looking right thru me where they’ve turned left in front of me.
I try to drive my Ford truck as little as possible. I’ve only had one accident in my old Hyundai Galloper where I was rear ended by a taxi at a stop sign and he balled his head off about his sorryness and how sore he was and he’s glad I was ok. Really all he did was bend up a corner of the bumper which I promptly fixed but his car was smashed up good but as soon as I released him from his… obligation to me he proptly quit crying his crocodile tears jumped in his car and sped off.