Honking Loudly at the Car Ahead Despite Pedestrian Signal Being Green

Stopped Even When Pedestrians Waited to Cross
"Stopped Unconditionally Due to Unclear Enforcement Standards"
Citizens Respond Positively

At around 8:35 a.m. on the 12th, a vehicle making a right turn at the crosswalk in front of Seokgye Intersection in Seoul gradually encroached on the crosswalk as the traffic light's green signal was about to turn off. Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee, Yoo Byungdon, Gong Byungseon, Oh Gyumin] At 8:40 a.m. on the 12th, at Yangpyeong-dong Intersection in Yeongdeungpo-gu. The roads were filled with vehicles heading to nearby companies for work, and even the farthest lane, which usually had better flow, was lined with cars. The vehicles at the front seemed conscious of the temporary stop enforcement for right turns at the intersection, keeping their turn signals on but remaining stopped for a while before moving only when the light changed.

Vehicles passing without stopping when pedestrians were crossing or waiting to cross the crosswalk were rarely seen. Observing right-turning vehicles at the intersection for about 25 minutes, only two vehicles turned right without stopping. Drivers stopped temporarily and waited for the signal to change as soon as pedestrians were waiting in front of the traffic light.

At the intersection near Yeoksam Elementary School in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, most vehicles complied well with the temporary stop for right turns. From 8:30 a.m. to 9:40 a.m., among about 110 vehicles, 79% (87 vehicles) adhered to the stop rule. However, some vehicles turned right without stopping even when students were crossing in front.

At Seokgye Station Intersection in Seoul, where traffic is congested due to structures related to the subway station and four crosswalks, vehicles also protected pedestrians. From 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. that day, about 50 vehicles stopped when pedestrians were present during right turns. Some vehicles stopped temporarily even when no one was preparing to cross on the crosswalk or sidewalk. However, some drivers appeared impatient. One vehicle stopped in front of the crosswalk but started moving slowly as the green light was about to turn off. A blue truck continuously honked at the vehicle stopped in front of the crosswalk, signaling to go faster.

At around 8:40 a.m. in front of the Seoul Western District Court, the temporary stop for right turns was generally well observed. Among 24 vehicles, 20 stopped even when the light was red after turning right. Taxi and passenger car drivers stopped after seeing pedestrians and then proceeded.

Around 9 a.m. on the 12th, vehicles at Yangpyeong-dong Intersection in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, are stopped before making a right turn, waiting for pedestrians to cross the crosswalk. Photo by Byungdon Yoo tamond@

Citizens still responded that the criteria for the temporary stop policy for right turns are ambiguous. Kim Jeyeon (31), who commutes to a company near Dangsan Station, said, "I didn’t know the exact enforcement criteria, so I just stopped unconditionally," adding, "People around me also say that stopping when in doubt is the answer." A parent of a 5th-grade elementary school student said, "Some cars just zoom by, while others stop temporarily, so it seems the rule is still not well followed," and added, "We need to develop a habit of stopping when seeing pedestrians." Kim Hyunmi (37), working in the financial sector in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, said, "Even though fines are imposed, it seems many still don’t comply," and "I don’t know the exact enforcement criteria."

There were also positive reactions that safety has improved due to police enforcement. Resident Choi Mihui (43), who was about to cross the crosswalk, said, "Since the law changed, there are far fewer vehicles turning right recklessly," and smiled, "Everyone seems to understand and follow the rule well." Kim Gyeyeon (62) said, "I feel that vehicles have become more considerate of pedestrians when turning right recently," but added, "When I see vehicles honking like that, I walk carefully, watching for oncoming cars." Office worker Park (34) said, "I didn’t know about the right-turn enforcement before," and added, "I decided to develop a habit of stopping whenever there is a crosswalk."

Meanwhile, the police began enforcing the temporary stop for right turns from this day, after a three-month grace period. They will monitor compliance with the obligation to stop temporarily in front of crosswalks when turning right at intersections and impose fines on violating vehicles. If a driver does not stop temporarily despite pedestrians waiting to cross at the crosswalk after turning right at an intersection, a fine of 60,000 KRW (for passenger cars) and 10 penalty points will be imposed. According to the National Police Agency, during the grace period, there were 3,386 right-turn traffic accidents and 22 deaths, showing a 24.4% decrease in accidents and a 45% decrease in deaths compared to the previous year.

A police official stated, "Drivers should check for pedestrians around the crosswalk, not just the pedestrian signal, when turning right, and it is advisable to develop a habit of stopping whenever pedestrians are seen." Traffic departments of local police stations also plan to conduct frequent enforcement. The head of the traffic department in Seoul said, "Rather than setting specific times, we plan to catch violations through frequent enforcement," and added, "We have also educated local police officers on this matter."