D.W.A. - Driving while Asian
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My friend who grew up in South Korea certainly has some interesting driving habits. He was the first person from a foreign country that I had the pleasure of knowing intimately enough that I could ask questions without any worry of offending him, and likewise with his questions directed at me.
I mentioned his rather interesting driving habits to him one time, which got him to talking about some of the finer points of driving over in Seoul. He went into detail on the three possible choices for performing what he considered was the most difficult of difficult maneuvers in Seoul, the at-speed lane change. I believe he told me at the time, he had a slightly less than showroom condition 1988 or so Hyundai Excel.
For example, if one were to find themselves travelling in the center lane of traffic and needed to get into the right lane, you basically had the four options which I have listed below, in order of severity. I've given them names now, to help with the description. Aside from that, they are just as I remember him explaining them:
a)The typical turn: Turn on the right signal, while making eye contact with the drivers in the desired lane you wish to merge in to, so as to maintain a marginal level of safety. Then, proceed to grow old waiting to merge into your desired lane of choice, should you manage to make it over there before your own funeral.
b)The one-two turn: This one is pretty easy to explain, just blink, then turn. One blink is the key, though. Too much knowledge of your intentions could lead to the same result as option "a".
c)The point and shoot: Basically the same thing as the one-two turn, except it is performed while dropping all formalities of using the turn signal. Pick a direction, flick the wheel. This one required the least amount of driver input and foreknowledge of even your own intentions, and provided your fellow motorists with almost zero warning of what you planned to do ahead of time (a most desired result). This was his favorite.
d) The head fake: This one involves going through all the motions of option "a", but then doing the exact opposite of your intentions, all in the name of enticing the motorists in the lane you
really intend as your destination into letting down their guard. When one wants to make a right, one turns on the left turn signal for a couple of blinks, and flies over into their desired lane. He claims he did not come up with this on his own, but had it pulled on him one day in traffic, and admired it enough to start using it himself.
