General Listening Quiz

What are common traffic violations and how do they threaten public safety (for example, following cars too closely, or tailgating, can result in rear end collisions if the car in front of you stops suddenly)?

“pull over” = drive to the side of the road and stop
“The police pulled him over and gave him a ticket for speeding.”

“make waves” = cause problems
“Stop making waves and admit you ran the red light. It is useless to argue with the police officer.”

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

• Mixed-Up Sentence  |  Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

In your own words, give a summary of the traffic violations the driver in this conversation committed. What steps can law enforcement (police officers) take to protect the public and roads in such cases? Is it better to try to talk your way out of a traffic ticket or just accept the consequences if you have broken a traffic law? 

Getting a traffic ticket for different violations can happen if you aren’t aware of the laws or code where you live or visit. Choose a country you want to visit and find out about three specific traffic laws and the penalties for violating those laws. How do these rules compare to those in your own area?

Keep in mind that the traffic code can vary widely from area to area within the same country. Learning about the criminal justice system before you travel to a new place can help you avoid legal problems.