SOME PECULARITIES OF THE DRIVING IN THE UK

MODULE 6. BUSINESS TRIP

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Vocabulary: ex. 3, 5, 6

Reading: ex. 2, 4

Speaking: ex.1, 7, 8

Samples of everyday dialogues: ex. 9

Role play: ex. 10

Project: ex. 11

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Exercise 1. Warm-up. In pairs or small groups discuss the questions.

Exercise 2.

A) Read the text and try to elicit the peculiarities of the driving in the UK.

SOME PECULARITIES OF THE DRIVING IN THE UK

While on a business trip you may rent a car. In different countries there are some peculiarities of driving a car. The most famous aspect of driving in the United Kingdom is that the British people drive on "the wrong side" of the road, i.e. on the left hand lane, and the driver sits on the right hand side of the car. But British don't think it's wrong. The history tells us that in ancient times when people passing each other on the road they should be in comfortable position to use their sword in the right hand to protect themselves and knights when joisting passed each other on the left and holding the spears in the right hand.

Universally following the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) each country specifies a uniform road traffic flow: left-hand traffic (LHT) in which traffic keeps to the left side of the road, or right-hand traffic (RHT) in which traffic keeps to the right. In the United Kingdom the traffic is adopted to be left-hand. That is why it is very important to remember about some facts below:

· All traffic is generally required to keep left unless overtaking.

· Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the right.

· Right-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.

· Most traffic signs facing motorists are on the left side of the road.

· Traffic on roundabouts (traffic circles or rotaries) goes clockwise.

· The lane designated for normal driving and turning left is on the left.

· Most dual carriageway (divided highway) exits are on the left.

· Other vehicles are overtaken (passed) on the right, though in some circumstances overtaking on the left is permitted.

· Most vehicles have the driving seat on the right.

· A left turn at a red light may be allowed after stopping.

One more interesting fact of the driving in the UK is that speed limits signs and distance signs are always indicated in miles but not in kilometres (5 miles equal 8 kilometres). Most speed limits are indicated by black numerals on a circular white sign with a red border. The exception is the National Speed Limit, a kind of "default" speed limit, indicated by a plain white circular sign with a black diagonal stripe. The National Speed Limit (NSL) is 60 mph (=98 km/h) on single-carriageway roads and 70 mph (=112 km/h) on dual-carriageways and motorways. Breaking the speed limit usually incurs a fine. Stationary speed cameras, mobile police radar traps and average speed camera are used to catch offenders.

In the UK motorists are only allowed to pass on one side, this being the right. Passing on the left at speed is very hazardous and every offender could be prosecuted for dangerous driving.

It is very important to know that there is no UK equivalent of "Right on Red" (this would be "Left on Red"). At some traffic lights there may be a green filter arrow. This indicates a filter lane only. Traffic lights run in the sequence: red - red&amber - green - amber – red (amber means "stop").

(Know Your Traffic Signs. London: Department for Transport, 2010)

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 955