Road Rage

Fifty years ago, private car ownership was growing rapidly, and public transport was losing its dominant role. The process seemed quite nat­ural and, on the whole, a good thing. Roads became over-crowded, of course, and the solution to that prob­lem was simple — build more roads. Building new roads appears to generate new traffic.

It has long been noted that car driving has some strange psychologi­cal effects on human beings. The Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan said: "The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggres­sive shell, of urban man."

By the 1990s, how­ever, it was no longer a joke, and a new phrase was coined: road rage. More and more often, people were getting out of their cars and starting fights with other drivers; murders have been committed. Hours of isola­tion, competition and frustration, while breathing in exhaust fumes, are obviously not good for people.

Road accident figures, on the other hand, have not increased with the number of vehicles on the road; in fact they have decreased. Various reasons are suggested for this: modern cars have better lights and brakes. One obvious reason is the slowness of city traffic — nobody gets killed when the cars are stand­ing still. Whatever the reasons, Britain has a better record than most European neighbours; the number of deaths per 10,000 vehicles is less than half that of France, for example. Another significant factor is that seat belt laws for vehicle drivers and passengers are respected by almost everyone.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: 1. Why did public transportation lose its dominant role? 2. Why did roads become overcrowded? 3. What strange phenomenon occurred after building the new roads? 4. What is “road rage” and why does it happen? 5. What can you say about seat belt laws for drivers and passengers in different countries/ in Ukraine?

Exercise 4. Compare and mind the difference:

Now write the following words into to two groups: BrE and AmE.

trunk, roundabout, windscreen, sedan, fender (of a car), caravan, pavement, traffic circle, flashlight, tyre, truck, hooter, torch, windshield, saloon car, wing, traffic signals, sidewalk, to reverse, bonnet, to give away, estate car, hood, boot, tire, trailer, horn (of a car), lorry, traffic lights, to back up, to yield, wagon.

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences and decide whether it was written in British English or American English.

1. He had trouble with his lorry, got out his spanner and lifted the bonnet to see what was the matter. 2. I’m running out of fuel. I need to stop at the nearest gas station to fill up the tank. 3. A broken windshield should be replaced.