The traffic in Seoul is a lot better nowadays than it used to be. However, in my opinion it could be a lot better still because I think a fair few of the traffic problems are caused by selfish drivers being caught in the middle of junctions when the lights change (ever heard of box junctions??). There are quite a few hot spots like this including the South West corner of the Express Bus Terminal (avoid the road between Seocho Station and Express Bus Terminal at all costs on the weekend). I was in the area today and noticed one of those traffic greeters working at the Songmo Hospital just beneath the Bus Terminal. His job was to enable South-bound traffic to turn left across the North-bound traffic to enter the hospital and to enable traffic leaving the hospital to turn left out of the hospital across the North-bound traffic to heard South.
Although he was not one of those ornamental greeters whose sole job is to welcome you to the store or wish you farewell, I still kind of expected him to give a nice pleasant greeting. Instead I was assailed by a stream of invective against any Northbound vehicle that was blocking the hospital junction when the lights changed.
Hey Motherf***er, move your f***ing vehicle, you're blocking the f***ing junction you stupid f***wit.
It didn't half work though and he kept a good stream of sick people entering the hospital.
I still think that each junction should be a giant set of trapdoors and when the lights change the trapdoors open and any f***wit that is still on the junction is immediately sent to a gruesome death...
