By It looks like the current USFK Commander, General Bell is beginning to feel the same frustration that I’m sure the former USFK Commander, General LaPorte felt when he was in command:
U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. B.B. Bell has directed the military community to review safe-driving procedures and re-emphasize safety lessons following two recent fatal traffic accidents.
These accidents concern me greatly and we all must make every reasonable effort to prevent similar tragedies, Bell wrote in an April 20 safety alert message. Bell also serves as commander of the United Nations Command and of the Combined Forces Command.
While both accidents are under investigation, Bell wrote, it’s important to review safe driving procedures now and reemphasize safety lessons learned from similar tragedies in the past.
On April 14, a U.S. contractor struck and killed a South Korean man in a traffic accident, officials said. And on April 19, a U.S. Army captain driving to work hit and killed a South Korean man sitting in the middle of a street near Yongsan Garrison, according to 8th Army officials.
USFK will never be able to stop all traffic accidents from happening especially with the current locations of the US military facilities. If and that is a big if right now due to the current Camp Humphreys drama; when Yongsan moves south, that should drastically reduce traffic accidents since USFK would be out of the congested metropolis of Seoul.
Out of everything General Bell spoke about, speed is the main thing people need to be aware of when driving in Korea. People walk all over the roads here and side walks are limited in many areas not to mention other hazards such as many people not obeying traffic laws and crazy moped drivers. Speed alone does not prevent accidents totally as well because military vehicles that have mandated 15 and 25 mph speed limits in the Second Infantry Division area also get into to accidents. These accidents primarily occur because passengers and drivers did not keep good situational awareness while driving slow. Passengers in a vehicle need to stay aware and not zone out when riding in a vehicle and look for the old woman or kids that may run into the road.
Like General Bell, said these accidents all have strategic consequences on the Korean peninsula.
