Why Korea`s driving culture needs a major overhaul

(Editor`s note: The following piece is a contribution on The Dong-A Ilbo`s series on traffic safety from a police officer specializing in traffic supervision)

A few years ago, I was returning home from a business trip to a province. When I turned on the blinker and tried to enter the highway, a dump truck honked and threateningly tailgated me.

I was surprised but I safely landed on a highway lane. The truck driver then passed me and suddenly slammed on the brakes. I managed to avoid a collision, but my mind went blank and I broke out into a cold sweat.

While driving, I see many drivers who lack patience for other cars who want to change lanes. They drive offensively as if they feel ignored when other cars with their blinkers on try to enter their lane. Where did this bad habit come from?

I was a traffic supervisor at a police station in the early 1990s. More than 10,000 people were killed in car accidents in a year back then, and I was at many death scenes.

Among the victims was an entire family that was killed. I still feel sorry for them. I felt so frustrated and devastated. My colleague seemed to be dead serious and not joking when he said, “If you want to leave a descendent behind, you should never go anywhere with your entire family in a car.”

The cause of the miserable accident was bad driving habits. Had the driver observed the traffic light, speed limit and safety distance and cared more about the other driver, the disaster could have been prevented. Why was the driver in such a rush and what made him so impatient?

Accidents start from bad driving habits and end in terrible tragedy. Bad driving habits are like a disease that eventually lead to death. We forget the moment when we first got a driver’s license and cut corners in driving.

Many Koreans who have traveled abroad say they are impressed with their driving cultures of other countries, which put priority on pedestrians and care for others. Such Koreans, however, turn out no better than crazy drivers who bend rules behind the wheel in Korea.

Korea`s distorted driving culture is why Koreans believe they feel disadvantaged when observing traffic rules. When caught by police, many drivers complain why they were singled out or that police crack down on trivial things in a world where people struggle to make a living. This reflects the widespread perception that violating traffic rules is neither a crime nor a big deal.

The Dong-A Ilbo’s series on bad driving habits could be a catalyst that changes such bad driving habits and saves lives. Police will focus on the people’s safety and step up its efforts to root out bad driving habits that threaten safety.

Ignoring traffic rules means disregard for life. Police will strictly crack down on traffic violations despite complaints. A national movement will also be started to remove bad driving habits by offering incentives to drivers who make and keep “no accident, no violation” pledges.

Koreans has halved the number of traffic fatalities in the shortest period of time in the world, thanks to a government campaign to reduce deaths from accidents. Koreans can do anything when they unite. Police will take the lead to create a driving culture where drivers wave their hand instead of honking and care about other drivers.