ose a penalty on road users but to encourage their behavior and sense on the traffic safety.”
By John Power (firstname.lastname@example.org )
Improving road safety...
Korea could greatly improve road safety if laws were enforced. Unfortunately, South Korea has decided as a nation not to enforce road safety laws, such as speeding, failure to use a turn signal, driving too close to others, and improper seat belt use.
If the government wanted to improve road safety, like other OECD countries do, they would enforce the law by issuing tickets and encouraging new drivers to memorize these rules.
This would mean that Korea should create a serious and well-funded police traffic task force. They should be aggressive about handing out tickets when they have evidence of illegal activity. With this, prosecution should also be more serious and not allow bribery.
When it comes to non-police related issues, cities should be required to maintain crosswalks across the country much better than they do. They should also be required to put sand or salt on the roads for traction on snowy and icy roads.
The Korean government must also reign in on bus drivers and taxi drivers as their speeds and reckless behavior encourage others to drive aggressively instead of defensively.
Fake construction workers waving lights or police lights mounted to poles do little to stop traffic offenders. It is really a shame that Korea, as of 2009, has the second highest number of traffic fatalities among OECD nations per billion kilometers driven.
Traffic safety should not continue to be a second priority to timeliness.
― Anthony Gilbert, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province
It is very easy to improve road safety in Korea. First, stop selling soju in Korea. Second, remind all Korean drivers that being first is not as important as being alive. Third, all driving school instructors in Korea must be re-trained, and instructed to teach that the safety and security of all other drivers on the highways is the first priority of all drivers. Fourth, instruct all Korean drivers in highway courtesy. Fifth, wake up all Korean policemen who now sleep in their highway automobiles to do their job. Korea is one of the greatest countries on this Earth. I drove millions of kilometers on its highways. I survived by being careful and polite, and considerate.
― David Kennedy, St. John’s, Canada
Salt on the roads and sidewalks in response to snowstorms would help.
― Pamila Jo Florea, Seoul, via Facebook