Girl idol group campaigns for safe driving

"Overtaking school bus while driving is allowed."

"Hmm, I don`t know the answer to this question."

Here are there, girls were sighing deeply. They were taking a traffic test Wednesday set by Dong-A Ilbo reporters at the Dong-A Media Center in central Seoul. The girls belonged to the idol girl group "Dal Sherbet" who are gaining increasing popularity with the song "Look at by legs" and the so-called "Marilyn Monroe dance."

They did well with the first three questions among five. The questions were, "Which is safer while driving, high heels or sneakers?" "Should a driver lean on the head forward or attach back on the chair?" "What should one do when getting a phone call or instant message?" The fourth question was on whether watching dramas on DBM was legal while driving. Subin, a member of the group, said "It is certainly illegal because it`s dangerous." All six members of the group said it was against the law. After Sangju City sponsored cycle team players ran into a disastrous traffic accident by a television watching driver last year, a bill for banning watching DBM while driving has passed parliament Tuesday, one year after introduction. By the time the girls were taking the exam, it was not against the law, but they still got it correct.

Question No. 5 was "Is overtaking school bus safely okay while driving?" The members were mixed with some saying "Carefully overtaking is okay" and others saying, "No, children can be hurt." The answer was "No." Jiyul, Seri and Gaeun got the right answer. The exam results were 100 points for three members and 80 points for Woohi, Ayeong and Subin as they were incorrect for one question each.

Dal Sherbet recently made a traffic safety song with the Korean Transportation Safety Authority and performed it at TV programs. They are the so-called "Concept idols" -- referring to idol stars who are smart and observe right habits of living -- who are spearheading the campaign of eradicating foul driving.

Ayeong has experience of almost being hurt while in a car by litter thrown by a person in the front car. Her father was driving and she sat on the backseat when an empty beverage can came in through the window. The driver of the front car had thrown the can. She was even angrier when she found on the Internet that a baby lost eyesight by a cigarette ash that flew in from the front car.

Dal Sherbet members are typical young girls who would want to be pretty but they are well-mannered and have habit of observing safety. Jiyul habitually fastens safety belts at backseat. She was uncomfortable at first because her clothes wrinkled and her breast pressed. But now she says she feels uncomfortable without fastening the seatbelt. When another member seating beside her forgets to fasten seatbelt, she does it for her.

Dal Sherbet is popular among male for their attractive legs and appearance but they have one concern. Woohi said, "I once took a taxi and saw the driver watching us perform via DMB. I was very thankful but I hope the taxi driver in the future pays more attention on traffic lights while driving."