https://www.languageguide.org/im/landtravel/eng/extra.jsp?

lang=pt

I am sure you can all remember the first time you got into a car. The very
first time your father allowed you to drive HIS car. I certainly do although it
was many years ago. Firstly make yourself comfortable put on your
seatbelt (click it in place) and you are ready to go.

Start the engine (switch it on or turn it on), check in (look in) the mirror to
see if anything is behind you (coming form behind you), release the
handbrake (turn off a device operated by hand that prevents a vehicle from
moving), then indicate (switch on the indicator) press the accelerator a little
and pull out (move out) into the lane and off you go! Simple.
Well, yes and no. If it is your first experience then your mother or worse still
your father will be telling you “take it easy, drive carefully, watch out for this
and that, slow down etc”. A nightmare. Better to go to a driving instructor
and protect your family relationships.

Once you are on the open road or driving in traffic (many cars) then the
instructions will be coming thick and fast (a lot of them). Don’t drive to close
to the car in front. Don’t exceed (don’t go over) the speed limit. Watch out
for (keep an eye on) the road signs. Do not overtake (go past) any cars yet
until you are more experienced. When you are approaching (coming close
to) the traffic lights slow down (reduce your speed) put your foot gently on
the brake. Change gear. Go from 4th or 5th gear to 3rd then 2nd and apply
the handbrake when you come to a halt (stop) at the traffic lights. When the
lights turn green (your signal to move forward) move slowly by pressing the
accelerator and changing gears smoothly. Go up the gears (from 1st to 2nd
and so on) and increase your speed accordingly.

When driving at night you have to be more aware and watch all around
you. You must of course switch on the headlights and drive with dipped
(low) headlights to avoid blinding cars coming towards you (in the opposite
direction). Normally we reduce our speed when driving at night .

If you have to reverse (go backwards) make sure you check (look in) your
rear view mirror (shows you what is behind you) and reverse slowly.

As your driving improves you should learn the skills necessary to handle
the car in wet or icy conditions. You will learn how to handle the car if it
skids (goes out of control on a wet or slippery surface) how to swerve
(control and steer) the car safely to avoid something blocking the road and
how to apply the brakes suddenly if you have to make an emergency stop
(to pull up suddenly).

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Regulations

In England, you must drive on the left (unless road signs tell you otherwise or if you
are overtaking – passing another car). The driver’s seat is on the right hand side of
the car, and the passenger’s seat is on the left. The gearstick is to the left of the
driver.
Drivers and passengers have to wear a seatbelt, except if they have certain medical
conditions, and seatbelts should also be worn in the back seat. If you “drink drive”
(drive after drinking alcohol), the penalties can be serious. Most people will advise
you not to drink alcohol at all before driving.

Be especially careful to respect the speed limits on the roads. A sign tells you what
the maximum speed limit is, and if you break the speed limit, you may get a fine or
points on your licence. There are many hidden speed cameras in operation, so
watch out!

Indicators

You should use your indicators to show if you are turning left or right. You should
also use your mirrors (wing mirrors on the side of the car) and rearview mirror (to
see behind you) before you set off, make a turning, slow down or overtake. Drivers
should also turn round to look over their right shoulder so that they can see what is
happening in their blind spot – the place behind you that you cannot see – even
with mirrors.

Road junctions

At road junctions, check to see that no pedestrians are crossing the road into which
you are turning, as they have priority and you will have to wait. If there is a Stop
sign at the junction, you must stop your car behind the white line and wait until there
is a gap in the traffic. If there is a Give Way sign (also shown as a triangle), you
must give priority to traffic on the main road. There are also box junctions, where
there are yellow lines painted in a box on the road. You can only go into a box if your
exit is clear.

Some junctions are controlled by traffic lights, and here the same rules apply as for
traffic lights on other roads. A red light means “stop”, and you can only start moving
when the light changes to green. After green, the light changes to amber (orange)
and you can only continue if your car has already crossed the line and when
stopping could cause an accident.

Roundabouts

At roundabouts, you go round in a clockwise direction. You have to give priority to

traffic coming from the right. You should get in lane according to which exit you
need. (If you are leaving at the first exit, get into the left hand lane; if you are leaving
at the middle exits, get in the middle lane(s); and get into the right hand lane if you
are leaving at the last exit.) Signal left to leave the roundabout after you have
passed the exit previous to yours.

Pedestrian crossings

There are two main types of pedestrian crossings. There are zebra crossings
(which are marked by white stripes in the road) and there are pelican crossings,
where a red flashing light means you have to stop for pedestrians. You can’t park on
either type of crossing, and you should give way to pedestrians.

Motorway driving

There are special rules for driving on motorways. In short, learner drivers (those
who haven’t yet passed their driving tests) cannot drive on motorways. The speed
limit is higher than on other roads, and there are at least three lanes of traffic. You
have to take extra care when overtaking, joining or leaving the motorway. If you
break down, you should stay in the hard shoulder (a narrow lane on the left) and
wait for assistance.

12 Everyday English Phrases:

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Driving

Everyday English phrases for talking about driving

#1 – I’M HEADING TO THE UNIVERSITY – I’LL GIVE

YOU A RIDE IF YOU WANT.
The verb “heading to” is an informal way to say “going to” or “traveling to,” and the
expression “I’ll give you a ride” means “I will take you in my car to the destination.”

#2 – EVERYBODY BUCKLE UP, PLEASE.

The phrasal verb buckle up means to put on your seat belt:

You can also use the verb “fasten” with a seat belt: “Everybody fasten your seat
belts, please.” The opposite of buckling or fastening your seat belt is unbuckling the
seat belt (opening/removing the seat belt).

#3 – THERE’S A HUGE TRAFFIC JAM ON THE

HIGHWAY.
A highway (also called a freeway or expressway) is a wide street where the traffic
goes fast. A traffic jam is when the traffic is stopped or slow.

Image: Osvaldo Gago

#4 – YOU DON’T WANT TO BE IN THIS LANE – IT’S
EXIT-ONLY.
Most roads and highways are divided into lanes – for example, the road in the photo
above has two lanes. An exit is a road to leave the highway, to get off the highway. If
a lane is exit-only, it means that the cars in that lane must leave the highway.

#5 – PULL OVER – I THINK THE CAR IS

OVERHEATING.
This phrasal verb means to drive your car to the side of the road and stop. The side
of the road is sometimes called the shoulder. You usually pull over if you think there
is a problem with the car – such as in this case, when the car is overheating – that
means the engine is getting too hot.

#6 – DID YOU SEE HOW THAT GUY JUST CUT ME

OFF?!?
If another car cuts you off, it means the other car suddenly drives in front of your
car. It is a dangerous movement because it can cause an accident.

#7 – I’M THIRSTY – LET’S MAKE A PIT STOP AT THE

NEXT SERVICE STATION.
When you are taking a road trip (a long trip by car), you’ll occasionally need to make
a pit stop – that means to stop at a store or station to use the bathroom and/or buy
food and drinks.

Image: Bidgee
#8 – TURN LEFT AT THE LIGHT AND THEN FOLLOW
THE SIGNS FOR THE AIRPORT.
The red, yellow, and green lights that control traffic are called traffic lights.
However, when giving directions, some people simply say “at the light.”

Information and directions are posted along the road on signs:

#9 – I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES WHEN I SAW A

CHILD RUN IN FRONT OF THE CAR.
The word brakes refers to the equipment that makes the car stop. We can say “hit
the brakes” to describe using this equipment to stop the car, but the verb to “slam”
on the brakes means to stop the car suddenly, in the case of an emergency.

#10 – SLOW DOWN – THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55.

There are two phrasal verbs we use to describe change in the car’s velocity – slow
down to drive the car slower, and speed up to drive the car faster. Speed is another
word for “velocity,” and most roads have a speed limit – the maximum velocity at
which you can drive your car.

#11 – YOU FORGOT TO TURN OFF YOUR BLINKER

AFTER YOU MERGED.
The yellow or orange lights on the sides of the car that indicate a left or right turn are
called turn signals or blinkers:

You need to activate your blinker to inform other drivers that you plan to turn left,
turn right, or to merge – that means to move from one lane to another.

#12 – I WISH YOU’D STOP BEING A BACKSEAT

DRIVER!
A backseat driver is a person in the car who is not driving, but who criticizes the
driver’s abilities or who makes lots of suggestions and gives lots of tips for the driver
to improve. Most people think that backseat drivers are really annoying!

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