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 В roads marked B4236, B1247 etc, and Class С 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 В roads are secondary routes. In addition, the class С 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?