By Lee Hyo-sik
A new traffic signal system currently undergoing tests is causing a great deal of confusion among many motorists who say they had not been made aware of it, with some saying they had close calls because of it.
On April 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency replaced existing traffic lights with new ones at 11 major intersections in downtown Seoul on a trial basis, saying the new system will help speed up the flow of traffic.
However, many drivers complained that police hardly publicized the new traffic lights scheme to the public, stressing that they were caught off guard. Among other complaints, they said they have a hard time understanding what the red left-turn signal means. The left-turn signal in red indicates drivers must not make a left-turn. But many confused drivers attempt to make turn at the signal, putting their vehicles on a near collision course with other cars.
Kim Man-soo, a 56-year-old taxi driver, said there was no red-colored left-turn signal in the current traffic lights system. “When I first saw the signal, I did not know whether I should make a left turn or stop. It is confusing, particularly for an older driver like me,” Kim said.
To minimize the confusion, the Seoul City installed a signpost next to the new traffic signal reading “stop at a red-light left-turn signal.” But most drivers said the sign does not help much because the writing is so small that it is only visible close to an intersection.
“Early last year, the police changed the traffic signal system in a way that a left-turn signal comes after a go-straight light. Drivers need time to learn about and adjust to the new traffic lights system. I think police and other government agencies should make more effort to let people know about such changes clearly and in advance,” Kim said.
Another taxi driver said the envisioned traffic signal scheme should not be introduced. “Changing the traffic light system in such a way is a waste of taxpayers’ money. I do not see any reason why we need to adopt the new scheme. It will not improve the traffic flow, either.”
Despite an array of complaints from drivers, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been saying that it will set up the new signal system at all intersections in Seoul and expand it to the rest of the country. It said the three-light traffic signal is in line with an international standard, adding it has been adopted by many countries.
National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Hyun-oh said Monday that police will replace the current four-light signal with the three-light one as planned, despite public discontent.
“We admit that we did not properly promote the new traffic signal system. But drivers will understand why it should be introduced when they hear about the range of its merits,” Cho said.
He then said police will make more efforts to publicize the new system both online and offline, including distributing information posters to police stations nationwide, as well as asking media outlets to publicize it.