How Korean police could make a lot of money!

When you live in Seoul you pretty soon realize that cars and traffic play a very important role in this city. I'm used to drive in Europe and walking and taking a cab here in Seoul makes me continuously roll my eyes, seeing how the Koreans drive.

If the police would give fines for all of the infractions on the street, the city would be much richer now. 

Here are ten things police should have a closer look at!

1. Motorcycles on the sidewalks

It probably happened to everyone living in Seoul. You are walking on the sidewalk looking around, in peace with the world when suddenly you hear an engine behind you... It's the usual bikes on the sidewalk that wants to pass. He could drive on the road right? He could pass through the cars in line, right? No...too easy he prefers to drive in a slalom through pedestrians. Maybe to improve his driving skills but I guess most likely to save some few seconds of the traffic light! The best is when they use the pedestrian crossroads.

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

2. Parking on the sidewalks

Again...you are a nice pedestrian walking around and what happens? You have to mind the cars on your way. Why? Because they park on the sidewalk. But not right next to the street, no! They park next to the buildings. So you have the common situation of cars making all sorts of manoeuvrings to park in a tight space (yes tight, because it's supposed to be for small tiny pedestrians) and you have to careful and wait until they finished parking.

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

3. Run engine run!

Point 2 leads me to the next violation...Once the car is parked it's not obvious that the driver actually steps out. It may occur that the driver just stays in the car for an undefined time leaving the motors on and polluting the air around him for a very long time.

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

4. Waiting for green...in the center of the street

The traffic light turns red. Cars stop. Wrong. The Korean drivers like to save time. Even 2 seconds. And for these 2 seconds more they just ignore the pedestrians and just drive into the crossroad just enough to not crush into the traffic coming from the other road.

Mostly it disturbs the pedestrians that have to live in fear of crossing the road but the most damages is done in rush hours. They drive so close to the crossroad that they end up blocking one or sometimes two lanes of the other road. So when the other direction has green light they still can't drive through and they are stucked or have to change lane. Causing a congestion and stopping the flow of the traffic.

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

5. Racing

The streets in Seoul, especially in Gangnam are so large. It's so tempting to drive fast at night when there is no one around... It's so tempting that everyone does!

So after a certain hour at night, when the traffic jams are over, Koreans discover their need of speed! For that, for the racing they have imported nice fast cars and bikes. But when they buy them, they are not so happy that they build them so silent. So what do the Korean racers do? They tune them. And then .... ROOOAAARRRR. At every hour of the night you can hear this tuned engines racing on the streets, waking everyone up, leaving traces on the asphalt, feeling the wind on their neck for...a couple of 100 meters! Because, yes, the streets are large but the distances of the traffic lights are very short. So the only thing left of this racing mania is the disturbing sound that wakes me up every night!

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

6. Yobosejo?

I guess this is more of an international problem...Talking on the phone while driving! Here in Korea everyone has a smartphone and the newest gadgets, even the dumbest. So why on earth is it so difficult to buy headphones for your mobile phone when you drive, dear Korean? It's really dangerous to drive while on the phone and even text messaging (incredible!). I don't want to be a moralist but I think it's really shocking to see how many actually do it. Even the taxi driver that is responsible for my life.

I'm actually scared that so many call or text while driving especially in Korea since the drivers here change lanes without reason every two seconds. I'm always impressed not to see an accident every day!

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

7. Korean drama live! In the car!

Speaking of the high-tech stuff in Korea I want to mention a very smart device. The television for car drivers! Why didn't anyone else thing of this before? I mean, driving and pay attention to the traffic and other people can be very exhausting. So why don't rest the eyes on a nice Korean drama on tv? Caring about not making accidents can be so boring...better watch tv!

If only the police would let them pay...Amen

8. Sirens on, we are coming!

This point actually concerns the police and emergency forced directly. So I guess they would not fine themselves. But it's still worthwhile to mention...

It's 3am at night. Most of the people sleep. The streets are empty. Completely empty. Silence is all over...EMERGENCY EMERGENCY!!!

The police, ambulance, firemen or anyone with a fucking siren, have to go to some emergency and they love to use their cute and very very loud siren. To pass through traffic. Only dilemma...There is no traffic!!! So why would you need the terrible sound of the sirens to drive to empty roads? For me it's a mystery. In Germany they usually use the blinking blue lights to pass fast through the city and only when there are too many cars that obstruct the way, they use the sirens. Which almost never is at night, of course...

If only the police would think...Amen

9. I love my whisle

It's good that once in a while, when the traffic is really heavy policemen help out and direct the traffic. In theory....In the practice they do direct the traffic with their continuously whistling but following the system of the existing traffic lights. They do the exact same job as the traffic light. With only one exception...The pedestrian are the bad guys causing the traffic. So it's the pedestrian that have to wait longer.

If only the police would think...Amen

10. Let the dance begin!

I have to mention one of the things that bothers me more. Actually two things I'm sure that once I'll have a car here in a few weeks it will make me crazy.

First...CHANGING LANES!

It seems to me that most of Korean drivers (no offense) have bugs under their asses and so have to keep moving. They change the lane all the time. So if a driver has to turn right in 100 meters he doesn't stay in the right lane. He changes lane from right to left and back from left to right minimum 2 times before he then turns to right. If there are 6 lanes, the change happen from the external left lane to the external right lane within seconds. You may think this is not a big deal. But if every driver does it, including public and private buses and trucks, there is a continuous rotating and crossing of vehicles that stops traffic completely. Everyone moves and no one moves at the same time.

This of course has a second consequence, which brings me to the second most annoying thing...the use of the BREAKS

This stop and go type of driving is, as you can imagine everything but smooth. So, at least talking about my taxi experiences, a lot of Korean drivers are very rough with the pedals of their car, which means a continuous hopping while driving. I don't know if they don't learn how to use the break and the accelerator in a smooth way but fact is that you can feel sick very quickly when you sit in a Korean car.

If they would drive in the same lane for a while then maybe they would be less agressive with the pedals...

I guess the police can't do much about this last point!!!

So folks, I hope the Korean police will read this post and up to then...be careful in streets of Seoul! AMEN!