All the states have adopted one of two standards for traffic flows: traffic flows either on the left- or right-side of the road. Countries are said to have left-hand traffic (LHT) or right-hand traffic (RHT). Vehicles are manufactured in left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) configuration, depending on the placement of the driving seat and controls within the vehicle. Typically, the placement of the steering wheel is opposite to the rule of the road: LHT countries use RHD, and RHT countries use LHD vehicles. However, there are countries that drive on the left but use mostly LHD vehicles (some Caribbean islands) or that drive on the right but use mostly RHD vehicles. Many countries permit both types of vehicles on their roads.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: 1. RHT countries use RHD vehicles, doesnt they? 2. Why are RHD vehicles so dangerous on our roads? Prove your opinion. 3. Choose what countries are LHT and RHT: Argentina, Egypt, Brazil, Australia, the Bahamas, Belarus, Korea, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, Bulgaria, Mexico, the Netherlands, Japan, Russia, the Saudi Arabia, China, Malta, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine
Vocabulary exercises
Exercise 1. Translate the sentences paying attention to the different words that mean the road.
tollway, toll road, turnpike (AE)
highway (AE)
highway crossing
interchange - (AE)
interstate highway (AE)
divided highway (AE),
express way (AE)
thoroughfare (), , no thoroughfare ()
entry (AE), No entry! () !
roundabout (AE)
dual-dual highway -
access road - (BE)
country road, country-track, cart-way, back road - (BE)
main road - (BE)
by-way - (BE)
Exercise 2. Read the dialogue and then make your own.
Driving in the city
Mr. Dawson:How did you get here, Gabriel?
Gabriel: By car. You know, I drive, don't you?
Mr. Dawson: Oh, good. Do you find it difficult to drive in New York? There's lots of traffic here.
Gabriel:Yes, but I'm accustomed to it now. I used to feel nervous at first and was always afraid that someone was going to bump into me, but I've got over that now. I try not to drive in Manhattan though.
Mr. Dawson:Me neither. How do you find driving here compared with driving in Europe?
Gabriel: It is practically the same. Of course, at first it seems more difficult because of the traffic, but when you get used to it, it's all right. And if you go out of the city, you feel so relaxed at the wheel.
Mr. Dawson:What do you mean?
Gabriel:As soon as you leave the city and go north, for example, you see almost no traffic at all. And the roads are good and well marked. And drivers are so polite.
|
|
|
Mr. Dawson:Have you been in an accident while you have been driving?
Gabriel:No, at least so far.
Mr. Dawson:Oh, good. I've been in a couple of accidents myself, but they were not serious, thanks God, so I won't tell you about them. Lets go to the dinning room. The dinner is ready.
Exercise 3. Translate the sentences into English.
1. , 21 . 2. . 3. , , . 4. . 5. . 6. 105 /.7. . 8. , , . 9. - , .
Exercise 4. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. Under LHT traffic on roundabouts goes clockwise, it means that RHT traffic on roundabouts goes counter-clockwise. 2. In England, you must drive on the left (unless road signs tell you otherwise or if you are overtaking passing another car. 3. Where neighboring countries use different traffic rules, drivers from one to the other must change sides at border crossings. 4. There are box junctions, where there are yellow lines painted in a box on the road and the drivers can use them to cross a junction or to turn. 5. In the UK, the drivers seat is on the right hand side of the car, and the passengers seat is on the left, the gearstick is to the left of the driver.
Exercise 5. Be ready to discuss or tell in a few words about the stated below problems that are concerned with the traffic safety.
Its interesting to know
Research in 1969 by Leeming showed countries driving on the left have a lower collision rate than countries driving on the right. Some countries that have switched to driving on the right, such as Sweden, have seen their long-term accident rates increase by more than any increase in traffic volume. It has been suggested, but not proven that this is partly because it is more common to be right-eye dominant. Traffic flows in a clockwise direction when driving on the left which enables right eyed people to use right eye to see oncoming traffic. When overtaking on a right-side-driving road, the right-eyed driver looks in the wing mirror (side mirror) with the left eye and also views the oncoming traffic with the left eye which is not suited to the majority of right-eyed people.
Comprehension reading
Exercise 1. Read the text and write a summary.
Driving in the USA
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible
to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything.
Charles Kuralt
It is almost impossible to even get to the shops without a car in the USA. Of course it is a joke, but this joke reflects the fact that nearly everyone has a car in the USA.
|
|
|
Vehicles drive on the right throughout the USA and Canada, except for the US Virgin Islands where they drive on the left. Drivers must be over 21 years of age to rent a car and should present a translation of a national driver's license in English, or an International Driver's License. Rental agencies prefer payment with a major credit card. If you don't have one, they will require a large cash deposit. Very often cash will be refused at night and on weekends. This will also occur at gas stations.
While being on the road you can find some peculiarities. Of course, traffic drives on the right. In some states (e.g. California, and Florida) you are allowed to turn right after stopping at a red light, but only if the road is clear. You must park in the direction of the moving traffic. In very large cities such as Los Angeles the freeways can have as many as eight lanes in each direction, sometimes with on and off ramps on both sides, sometimes only a quarter of a mile apart. A good navigator and advance route planning is vital! One should be particularly careful of becoming trapped in an exit only lane. There are strict speed limits on the highways which must be obeyed. In some states the maximum speed limit on rural interstates is 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). As a result, driving is relaxing and pleasant. Most American drivers keep to the speed limit. When you merge onto an expressway from an on-ramp, you should yield. Traffic does not automatically move over to allow cars on! Don't forget to signal! There can be minimum speed limits on expressways, as well as maximum speed limits. Some states even set a lower limit for night driving.
Tailgating or driving dangerously close to the car in front is an offence. Other than in the big cities, roads are fairly free of traffic and driving is generally a pleasure. You can usually maintain a steady speed all day with few problems and no fatigue. Outside towns even relatively minor roads normally have wide shoulders. Roads in towns are usually very wide. Even a small American or Canadian town can extend over a very large area, making walking impractical. Other than in the centre of a large town car parking is extremely convenient, with each shop or restaurant having its own free open air car park. In summer, it's a good idea to wear sunglasses when driving so as to cut down the reflected glare from the road surface.
Motels and fast food restaurants are usually situated a considerable distance from the centre of a town, often stretching for several miles along the main highways or the access roads from an interstate.
Drinking and driving regulations are extremely tightly enforced. Having any alcohol in a car other than in sealed containers in the boot is illegal in most if not all states and provinces. It is certainly illegal everywhere to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a car.
Exercise 2. Read the text and write a summary.
Driving in the UK
The journey of a thousand miles begins
with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.
Roads in the UK are narrower than in the USA, parking spaces smaller and traffic faster. The UK test is much harder to pass and has a much higher failure rate than Ukraine driving exams. Rules of the road are different to Ukraine, and you should study these and get plenty of practice before you will be driving on the left, and negotiating roundabouts, etc. It's worth paying a professional for lessons even if you've driven for years and think you know it all.
The UK has an excellent public transport system. But if you think you need a car or you just need to drive, this may not be the case. It is not too difficult to rent a car there. If you have come to the UK and hold a full driving license, you'll be legally allowed to drive in the UK for up to 1 year from your date of entering the country.
First thing to notice while you are in the UK is that they drive on the left. Take particular care when starting to drive in the morning or after a break, it is so easy to forget and drive on the wrong side of the road. Make sure your vehicle is mechanically fit for the road. Make sure you are not overloaded and your view through windows and mirrors is not hindered in any way.
|
|
|
Remember junctions appear different when you are driving on the left. It will not be so obvious which road to take to get to your destination. It istoo easy to go the wrong way down a road. Take your time. Plan your route. Try to visualize the common junction types so you can get in the correct lane and make your turn as required.
Petrolis highly taxed in the UK that is why the prices are higher than in our country. If you are planning to do a significant amount of miles in a medium to large vehicle, then it may be cheaper to hire one with a diesel engine. Anyway you have got to take some credit cards with you.
Do not drink and drive. The penalties are severe, but above all it is dangerous. Motorways and dual carriageways can be 2 or more lanes in each direction. Road shoulders are only for use in emergencies. If you pull on to it and stop, then stop as far to the left as possible. Switch on hazard lights. Leave side lights on if it is dark. Leave the vehicle by the left door. All passengers should stand on the grass as far away from the hard shoulder and carriageways as possible. Keep children under strict control. Pets should-be left inside the vehicle. Walk to the nearest telephone, the wayside indicators will point to the nearest telephone. Telephones are every mile along motorways. If you are a woman travelling alone then tell the operator who answers the roadside telephone. After giving details, return to the vehicle and wait. If you sense any danger return to the vehicle using the left door and lock yourself inside. Leave the vehicle again when you feel the danger has passed.
There are 4 main classes of road in the UK. They are motorways, marked Ml, M62 or M5 etc. Then, Class A roads, for example Al, A66, A57 etc; Class roads marked B4236, B1247 etc, and Class roads or local roads. Motorways and A roads are primary routes. Some A class roads have been brought up to motorway standard, i.e. have a hard shoulder, roadside emergency telephones, and have prohibitions to some slow vehicles and learner drivers. Class roads are secondary routes. In addition, the class roads are small local roads. They are not signed as C1231 etc., but just indicate directions to name nearby towns or villages.
All Motorway signs have blue backgrounds. None Motorway primary routes have green backgrounds, and secondary and local route signs have white backgrounds.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: Do they have the same rules for driving in the UK? Can you drive a car in the UK if you have got a full driving license? Why should one plan his route while being in the UK and driving a car? Why may it be cheaper to hire a vehicle with a diesel engine? How should one behave himself being on a road shoulder? How many main classes of road are there in the UK?
1. .. / .. . : λ, 2007. 384.
2. - / . .- . .: , 2007. 602.
3. English vocabulary in use by Stuart Redman, Cambridge Univercity Press, 1997, - 270 p.
4. www.encarta.com
5. www.howstuffworks.com
.
-
I-II һ
|
|
|
: . .., . ..
, , .
I-II .
- .
, - , , , .
, , .
, .
. , ..
