traffic
[noun]
the coming and going of cars, airplanes, people, etc. in an area at a particular time
Ex:
Land Transportation - Traffic Terminology and Regulation
Here you will learn some English words related to traffic terminology and regulation such as "right of way", "traffic light", and "bottleneck."
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traffic code
[noun]
a set of rules and regulations that govern the conduct of drivers and pedestrians on the road
Ex:
The
traffic code
includes
guidelines
on
speed limits
,
lane
usage
,
and
pedestrian crossings
.
right of way
[noun]
the legal right for a vehicle or pedestrian to proceed before others in a particular situation
Ex:
She
waited
because
the
oncoming
traffic
had
the
right of way
.
move over law
[noun]
a regulation requiring motorists to change lanes or slow down when passing emergency vehicles parked on the roadside
Ex:
The
move over law
applies
not
only
to
police cars
but
also
to
tow trucks
,
ambulances
,
and
other
official
vehicles
with
flashing
lights
.
turn on red
[noun]
the legal maneuver allowing drivers to make a right turn at a red traffic light after coming to a complete stop
Ex:
The
turn on red
rule
helps
improve
traffic
flow
during
non-peak
hours
.
speed limit
[noun]
the most speed that a vehicle is legally allowed to have in specific areas, roads, or conditions
Ex:
a technology that uses optical character recognition to read vehicle license plates
Ex:
Parking lots
equipped
with
automatic number plate recognition
cameras
can
automatically
charge
drivers
based on
their
entry
and
exit
times
.
traffic enforcement camera
[noun]
a type of camera that is used to detect and record traffic violations, such as speeding or running a red light, and to capture images or video of the offending vehicle
red light camera
[noun]
a device installed at intersections to automatically photograph vehicles that run red lights
Ex:
Cities
often
install
red light cameras
in
areas
where
traffic
violations
and
accidents
are
common
to
improve
public
safety
.
traffic lights
[noun]
a set of lights, often colored in red, yellow, and green, that control the traffic on a road
Ex:
Traffic lights
at
the
intersection
were
malfunctioning
,
causing
confusion
for
drivers
.
stoplight
[noun]
a traffic signal that uses lights to regulate the movement of vehicles at intersections
Ex:
The
new
stoplight
improved
safety
at
the
busy
junction
.
green light
[noun]
the green-colored traffic signal that allows drivers or pedestrians to move forward
Ex:
The
traffic light
changed
from
red
to
green light
.
yellow light
[noun]
a traffic signal indicating that vehicles should prepare to stop as the light is about to turn red
Ex:
The
yellow light
means
drivers
should
proceed
with
caution
.
red light
[noun]
a signal that informs drivers that they must stop their vehicles
Ex:
The
red light
at
the
busy
crossroads
helps
manage
the
heavy
traffic
flow
.
wheel clamp
[noun]
a device used to immobilize vehicles by securing it around a wheel, preventing movement
Ex:
In
some
cities
,
wheel clamps
are
used
as
a
deterrent
against
unauthorized
parking
in
restricted
areas
.
checkpoint
[noun]
a designated place where vehicles are stopped for inspection or control, often by law enforcement
Ex:
The
checkpoint
caused
a
delay
in
their
travel plans
.
breath test
[noun]
a method used to measure the amount of alcohol in a person's breath to determine if they are under the influence of alcohol
Ex:
Employees
in
certain
industries
may
be
required
to
undergo
random
breath tests
to
ensure
workplace
safety
.
speed trap
[noun]
a place where police officers measure the speed of vehicles and issue tickets to those exceeding the speed limit
Ex:
The
speed trap
was
hidden
behind
a
curve
in
the
road
.
traffic calming
[noun]
the measures taken to slow down vehicles and improve safety on roads
Ex:
The
city council
decided
to
implement
traffic calming
measures
after
numerous
complaints
about
reckless driving
in
residential
zones
.
contraflow lane reversal
[noun]
the redirection of traffic lanes to accommodate opposite directional flow, typically during emergencies or events
Ex:
Authorities
announced
contraflow lane reversal
to
expedite
the
clearance
of
a
major
traffic
accident
.
point duty
[noun]
the task of directing traffic, usually performed by a police officer or traffic warden at an intersection or congested area
Ex:
Point duty
required
the
officer
to
stand in
the
middle
of
the
road
.
highway patrol
[noun]
a group of police officers responsible for enforcing traffic laws and ensuring safety on highways
Ex:
If
you
see
a
highway patrol
car
behind
you
,
it
's
important
to
obey
traffic
laws
.
traffic police
[noun]
the officers who manage and enforce traffic laws and regulations
Ex:
When
a
car
broke down
on
the
highway
,
the
traffic police
quickly
arrived
to
assist
and
keep
the
area
safe
.
traffic guard
[noun]
a person who helps direct and manage the flow of vehicles on roads, ensuring safety for drivers and pedestrians
Ex:
Drivers
must
obey
the
signals
given
by
the
traffic guard
to
prevent
accidents
and
keep
traffic
moving
smoothly
.
flagger
[noun]
a person who controls traffic with signals and signs to ensure safety on roads and highways
Ex:
During
rush hour
,
flaggers
play
a
crucial
role
in
managing
the
flow
of
vehicles
near
busy
intersections
.
crossing guard
[noun]
a person who assists pedestrians, especially children, in safely crossing roads or intersections
Ex:
The
crossing guard
held up
a
stop sign
to
halt
vehicles
approaching
the
intersection
.
bottleneck
[noun]
a place where vehicles slow down or stop because the road narrows or there is an obstruction
Ex:
Drivers
should
plan ahead
to
avoid
bottlenecks
on
their
route
.
gridlock
[noun]
a situation in which traffic is so heavily congested that movement is virtually impossible
Ex:
Rush hour
traffic
led
to
gridlock
on
the
freeway
,
and
we
were
stuck
for
miles
.
traffic congestion
[noun]
the condition where traffic slows down or comes to a halt due to a large number of vehicles on the road
Ex:
Local authorities
are
working on
plans
to
reduce
traffic congestion
in
downtown
areas
.
traffic jam
[noun]
a large number of bikes, cars, buses, etc. that are waiting in lines behind each other which move very slowly
Ex:
The
traffic jam
stretched
for
miles
,
causing
frustration
among
drivers
.
through traffic
[noun]
the movement of vehicles passing through a particular area without stopping or originating from there
Ex:
Signs
were
placed
to
guide
through traffic
away
from
the
city center
.
yellow trap
[noun]
a situation where straight-moving vehicles mistakenly assume an intersection is clear because of their yellow signal, leading to potential conflicts with turning or crossing traffic
Ex:
Pedestrians
should
watch out for
the
yellow trap
and
ensure
all
vehicles
have
come to
a
stop
before
crossing
the
street
.
parking meter
[noun]
a device found on a street or in a parking lot that requires payment to allow a vehicle to be parked for a certain amount of time
Ex:
The
city
installed
new
digital
parking meters
downtown
.
Idaho stop
[noun]
a traffic rule allowing cyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, proceeding cautiously if the intersection is clear
Ex:
Supporters
of
the
Idaho stop
believe
it
recognizes
the
differences
between
bicycles
and
cars
,
making
cycling
safer
and more
efficient
.
hours of service
[noun]
the maximum amount of time commercial drivers are allowed to operate their vehicles within a given period, as regulated by the Department of Transportation
Ex:
Compliance
with
hours of service
is
crucial
for
ensuring
the
safety
of
both
drivers
and
other
road
users
.
all-way stop
[noun]
a traffic regulation where vehicles from all directions are required to come to a complete stop at an intersection
Ex:
When
approaching
an
all-way stop
,
pedestrians
also
have
the
right of way
,
ensuring
their
safe
passage
across
the
street
.
road diet
[noun]
a traffic management strategy that involves reducing the number of lanes on a road to improve safety and accommodate other modes of transportation, such as cycling and walking
Ex:
The
effectiveness
of
a
road diet
depends on
various
factors
,
including
local
traffic patterns
and
community
feedback
.