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Seoul Warnings or Dangers: Driving et al tips posted by real travelers and Seoul locals.
Driving et al
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Seoul Driving et al ReviewsTips 1 - 10 of 14  
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Driving et al: Runaway motorbikes on pavements
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  • Updated By bpacker on December 19, 2005
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  • Driving et al - Seoul
    by bpacker
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    You're walking down the streets of Seoul and like any law-abiding tourist, you stick the pavement and avoid jaywalking. You're safe right? No way, watch out for those runaway motorists who for some reason or another, prefer to mow down pedestrains with their 400cc motorbikes and scooters.

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    Driving et al: Police Enforcers
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  • By ClarkRB on July 25, 2004
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  • Slow to 80 KM! - Seoul
    Slow to 80 KM!
    by ClarkRB
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    Anytime when driving in Seoul or anywhere in South Korea, if you see this sign, slow down!! A camera is in the vicinity and snaps a shot of those who are driving. Instead of getting it in the mail, the Seoul Metro Police will go right after you. The normal driving habit in Seoul is to speed, and once the sign pops up, people slow down instantly. Dangerously even. (Many don't have brake lights) Once they pass the cameras, continue to speed. That is if there is no traffic. Most of the time you won't even be able to go the posted speed.

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    Driving et al: Stay in Seoul on Choo-Seok and Lunar New Year
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  • By jburron on May 11, 2004
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  • Guess which way is home... - Seoul
    Guess which way is
    home...
    by jburron
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    You may know that Koreans have two main holidays: Chooseok (Thanksgiving, Sept/Oct) and Lunar New Year (Jan/Feb). Both go by the moon's cycle so they change every year, but the holiday is always 3 workdays off (which, as you might imagine, ends up being 9 calendar days off for some workers). In the West, many people spend the holidays with family and friends....but Koreans, bless them, take this a few steps further. THREE-QUARTERS (yes, 75%...32 million of the 46 million people in the country) hit the roads to go to their hometowns. This makes for some pretty incredible traffic (the 4-5 hour drive to Pusan extends to become 8,9,10,11 or ever 12 hours long!) but it does a great job of clearing out Seoul. If you have to get around Seoul during that time there is no problem with traffic (for once!). One more thing...if you do travel during these holidays either (i) plan your ticket well in advance or (ii) take the plane. Koreans have a natural tendancy to take roadtrips which can leave the schedules of most airlines wide open. (This, however, does not apply to Jeju-do--it is an island and almost everyone flies there.)

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    Driving et al: 360 degree vision needed
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  • By olddude on September 11, 2004
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  • I lived and drove in Korea as an American for 8 years and this country is by far gives you the best hand eye foot workout driving; especially in Seoul. I just love the challenge of it. I never once got a ticket or even so much as a scratch on any vehicle in my possesion while there. I drove everything from mini cars all the way up to 50 passenger motorcoaches. You can have a safe and event free time driving in Korea if you follow some simple rules. Rule 1. Forget any rules you may have picked up in other countries. Korean driving is survival of the fitest or richest (I will get to the rich part in a minute) Rule 2. Being polite will get you run over in most cases. Driving too slowly will get you run over. Koreans drive with their horns; not their brakes. Rule 3. If you happen to get into an accident, admit nothing if it is your fault. If it is not and the other driver offers money, take it. This is not a bribe. This is simply excuse my stupidity money; nothing more. The amount will usually be enough to cover any damages you may have incurred. This also keeps insurance rates in Korea extremely low since it keeps them, the cops, and lawyers out of it. Rule 4. Quarter-panel rule. The person whose front fender is in the lead has the right of way; no exceptions. This is especially the case with large or luxury vehicles. break this rule and it gets expensive (the rich part I mentioned earlier) and dangerous. Rule 5. Do not drink and drive. Absolutely no reason for it. Rule 6. In rural areas, stop signs are for decoration. The locals know when it is safe to stop or not stop at a particular intesrsection at a particular time of day. Rule 7. Always look a another driver in the eye to communicate your intentions. If they do not see you, you are not there and therefore not at fault in the event of an accident. This also applies to pedestrians. Rule 6. Motorcycles and scooters go anwhere; including the sidewalk. Rule 7. All bus and taxi drivers in Korea have posters of Shumacher on their walls. Figure that out.

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    Driving et al: traffic and walking
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  • Updated By seoulgirl on September 28, 2004
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  • Driving et al - Seoul
    by seoulgirl
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    If you are walking across the street, do not do so unless it's a cross walk. And even then be very careful. Even if you get the green light hesitate and look both ways. They don't usually stop right away, two or three cars will slip through.

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    Driving et al: Driving in Seoul
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  • Updated By Ewingjr98 on December 11, 2006
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  • Hey - You Can't Park There!!! - Seoul
    Hey - You Can't Park There!!!
    by Ewingjr98, 2 more photos
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    Seoul has many areas with steep roads, narrow streets, sharp curves, and small children. In the winter be especially careful; when the roads get icy, cars tend to slide out of control. The snow rarely stays on the road long, but you will have occasions when the snow on the side of the roads melts, runs onto the road, then refreezes, causing much trouble for drivers and pedestrians. One interesting thing in Korea is that locals will often grab shovels and brooms and not just clean the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses, but you will see them shoveling the hilly parts of the streets and spreading salt or cinders for traction.

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    Driving et al: Motorcycle Delivery
  • By jckim on February 3, 2005
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  • Driving et al - Seoul
    by jckim
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    At the market area and street, you can see to the delivery motorcycles. they are time is money, so more fast and get up speed for delivery. watch out for delivery motorcycles in the road crossing.

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    Driving et al: Don't drive! Watch out for...
  • By bard24 on August 26, 2002
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  • Don't drive! Watch out for speeding taxis. Itaewon can be a ripoff.

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    Driving et al: Terminator Trucks
  • By blwwins on February 7, 2007
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  • In addition to some of the various other rules you might see in Seoul or other areas, beware that buses are on a schedule and stop lights, signs and various traffic controllers do not apply to them. They will make left turns around other traffic stopped at a stop light from the right turn lane, et al. Terminator trucks, ditto. These are 4 axle (or more) dump trucks or trailer trucks that were given, by law for many years, the right to ignore traffic rules because they were essential to the development of the country and most of them still do it, with impunity. Basically stay away from busses and terminator trucks completely. The rest of Koreans either don't know how to drive so they do it very slowly or the drive like madmen. They really don't look more than 30- 40 feet in front of their vehicle. I had one guy come at me head on in order to avoid a frog hopping across the road. Experience: 4.5 years on motorcyles and in cars all over Korea. Pusan to Paju and Mokpo to Sokcho.


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    Driving et al: Motorcycles on sidewalks
  • By itsCharlie on January 28, 2007
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  • Driving et al - Seoul
    by itsCharlie
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    Since traffic is as it is... motorbike drivers will often opt for the sidewalk as a quicker route!! So be on your toes when you're walking around and don't make any sudden movements cause they will probably either be A- driving with one hand and carrying take out in the other or B- have some kind of delivery stacked up behind making them almost unable to stop!!

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