What's the story, guys?
Driving around large American cities requires a bit of patience and caution.
Streets are busy and traffic is slow,
not to mention all the elements you have to pay attention to.
In this class, we’ll remind you of some important aspects about driving on urban roads
and some rules in the U.S.
First of all:
This is an obligation.
See the structure:
used to say something is obligatory.
You could also use the structure have got for that.
Take a look:
But pay attention:
In spoken language, this structure is commonly used in its contracted form:
The apostrophe + ve is the contraction of the verb to have,
and gotta is the contraction of GOT + TO.
Besides that, always stop before the crosswalk,
otherwise you might get a fine.
There’s usually a walk signal for pedestrians,
but if the pedestrian hasn’t reached the other side of the sidewalk yet,
you have to wait, even if the light is already green to you.
Remember that pedestrians will always have the right of way,
especially if there’s no traffic light.
Well, you might find some pedestrians jaywalking,
that is, crossing the street carelessly and not using the crosswalk.
This is a traffic infraction as well, and there are penalties for that too.
So, keep an eye open, and if you are the pedestrian, remember:
We used NEVER and a verb to say what people cannot do,
but we could also use the imperative form of the verb in the negative:
And there’s a difference in intensity between those instructions:
Other elements that require extra attention are the alternative means of transportation
such as bikes and electric scooters.
They should also follow traffic laws and rules, but that doesn’t really happen so often.
Some cities have bike lanes, which prevents accidents,
but you should also do your part and…
In order to ensure everyone’s safety and to promote sustainable urban mobility,
the biggest ones should always watch over the smaller ones:
buses and trucks watch over cars;
buses, trucks, and cars watch over motorcycles;
buses, trucks, cars, and motorcycles watch over bikes and scooters;
and, of course, everyone should watch over pedestrians.
You’re probably familiar with traffic jams.
In the United States, they’re at their peak during rush hour,
around 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
So, avoid driving during these hours.
But you might not be familiar with this American traffic rule because not every country has it:
the possibility of turning right even if the traffic light is red.
Yup! That’s right!
That’s allowed on most U.S. roads,
unless there’s a road sign telling you otherwise, like this one:
Or if there’s a sign like this that specifies the period during which you’re not allowed to do that.
In this case, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
None of that applies to left turns, OK?
If you want to turn left in an intersection, for example, then you just have to wait for the green light.
Well, these are some tips on how to drive safely in American cities.
If you need more information,
consult the Driver’s Handbook we mentioned in the last topic, remember?
Oh, but there’s something you won’t find in any guide
and that might make you feel uncertain when driving in a different country:
Of course, there is GPS and fancy navigation systems nowadays,
but technology can leave us hanging sometimes.
So, learning how to ask for directions is helpful whether you’re driving or walking.
Let’s see some questions you may use:
See that we used Could and Please for a request?
And remember to always use Excuse me when you approach someone.
Answers will vary,
but you will probably hear things like:
OK, so you got to your destination and you need to park the car.
There are rules for parking too.
Each state has its own rules of public parking,
but in many places, curbs have different colors to indicate a parking zone.
Each state also has its own color code for the curb.
We’ll take California as an example and show what each color represents there:
Which means you can’t be long. 5 minutes tops.
If your car has a comercial plate,
you can stop there until you have finished loading or unloading.
That’s right, you can’t stop there even for 2 seconds.
You’re allowed to park for around 15 or 30 minutes,
but check the road signs for accurate information.
If you decide to park on the street,
look for the right zone according to the color of the curb and pay for your parking spot.
Yes! In the U.S., public parking spots are paid
to ensure parking turnover,
so paying for your public spot is necessary.
You’ll do it by using the parking meter or just meter.
Parking meters will vary from city to city,
but the procedures are mostly the same everywhere.
So, let’s see how it works:
But how to pay for that?
Well, in some cities,
parking meters take credit cards.
In others, you may need coins.
The price will vary according to the city and to the street,
so always check the information on the sign.
Now, in some streets, such as this one, parallel parking will be required.
And on other streets, you may see a sign that says head in parking only, like this one.
It means you have to park perpendicularly.
The front of the car should be facing the curb, not the street.
Otherwise, you may be fined.
OK… What if you’re in a busy area and can’t find a parking spot?
Well, you can look for a parking lot.
Most of the time, parking lots will have self-service pay stations.
In some parking lots, you’ll need to pay before getting into your car.
In others, the pay station will be at the control gate and you can pay from the car.
Always check that before entering the car.
Look for a sign that reads Pay here or something like that.
Well, this is it!
I hope you find it easier to drive around in your rental with these little tips.
And, of course, don’t forget the follow-up activities, guys!
See you next time!