Asian driving it is!

Sorry, ma, but we'll do my eating habits another time.

How bad are Korean drivers? On the international scale they are 2nd worst out of 30 OECD participating countries. They are near the top in automobile casualties per population. They are willing to give you a kind nudge when you are on your bike. Basically, if you have any reason whatsoever to cross the road make sure that no one is coming in either direction. Look twice. Even at a crosswalk.

Don't fool yourself into thinking the stereotype Asian drivers are bad in the U.S. Compared to their U.S. stereotyped counterparts Korean drivers are hellhounds out for blood. The meaning of the word restraint is not known by Korean drivers. The lines in the road? What lines? I'm Korean. I pay taxes for the whole road. So, I'll use the whole road. They will run red lights if the don't see anyone walking across the intersection. They are not afraid to swerve around your car leaving millimeters between you as they pass. They will hit bikers.

The previous native teacher, Anne, left behind a bike for me. I thanked her. And I asked her since the sidewalks are so crowded where do you ride your bike? I ride it on the sidewalk and in the road. It's really up to you. I mean I got hit 3 times last year. Twice by taxis. I had to kick one of them off my back tire because he was riding me. There goes my idea of buying a scooter. Because of that response I have been deterred from from riding the bike since I've been here.

I saw a couple pretty close calls when I have ridden in my co-teacher's car. I watched a couple people almost get hit by a taxi. A biker get moved aside. And what about my coteacher's, Ms. Yoo's driving? Oh boy.

Her driving scares me at times. The first time I rode in her car it was like riding into hell on a tricycle with your grandmother peddling. Slow. Deliberate. Meticulous. And I thought my side of the car was going to get scrapped off like a taxi was a cheese grater grating cheese. Luckily, I spend most of my time walking everywhere. So, I get to see more of the marketplaces and side streets.

Korean drivers park wherever they please. No parking here? Not a problem. I'll park here anyway. You know how families protect their parking spots in front of their alleyway houses? They build small, knee-high wooden or metal structures ( they look like these x------x) that are chained to their gate or near their garage to prevent other drivers from stealing their spot.

On my way to school I mainly walk through alleyways or markets. I don't have to cross a busy street but twice. Thanks to the subway system at many intersections there is not a crosswalk. You merely walk under the street through the bazaar and out the other side. Thank God. Because when the light turns red and the green walking symbol pops up I look both ways. Twice. I am cautious. Especially when I see a taxi.

Like any country taxis are menaces. You think MR. Singh is bad behind the wheel in the U.S.? HAH. Kim Jyeong Bi is a maniac behind the wheel of a mobile bomb waiting to explode. Taxis should be defined as cars that care little for human life outside of the car. They inch forward at crosswalks like they are racing. Often taxis will stop with their back bumber in the crosswalk. They don't use gasoline here. They use gas.

When I heard most taxis use Methane gas instead of gasoline I freaked. My teacher described it like this. 'You know taxi? They don't use oil. They use gas. Not like oil. Like poof. Gas.' You mean like hydrogen gas?! 'Yes, like hydrogen. In accident they go boom! Very dangerous.' You should have seen my face. 'Are you serious?! They are ticking time bombs! I will never ride in one!' (Until after a few glasses of soju of course).

Speaking of alcohol..... in Korea 25,000 accidents, that's 1 out of every 10 accidents, is related to drunk driving. That will make me think twice about all the jaywalking I do. Basically, what I'm telling you is Stay off the damn road at night. And day. Just walk under the street. Take the subway. Trust me you're better off.


Notes:

This website has Korea 3rd worst amongst Asian drivers. http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/asias-worst-drivers-1056870.html

I can't argue with India being number 2. They allow monkeys to ride mini-motorcycles in the street.