Why do some countries drive on the other side?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. Which side do people drive on in your country?
2. Have you ever travelled in a country with different rules?
3. Are you a good driver, a good passenger or neither?
4. Do you prefer driving, cycling or walking in a city?
5. What rule in your country would surprise a visitor?
6. Why do you think customs are different from country to country?

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about traffic.

Choose the word that fits.

1. Be careful when you another car on a narrow road.
2. A should use the crossing.
3. Stay in the left on the motorway.
4. Turn right at the next .
5. In some countries, the is on the right side of the car.
6. Heavy in the city makes people late.
7. Many countries the rule of driving on the right.
8. The police the speed limits.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. to overtake = to
   stop a vehiclefollow a vehiclepass another vehicle
2. a pedestrian is a person who
   walksdrivessells cars
3. a junction is where roads
   startendmeet
4. a custom is a
   kind of cartraditional way of doing somethingtype of road
5. to enforce = to make people
   break a ruleforget a ruleobey a rule
6. an empire is a group of countries
   with no lawsruled by one powerwith no borders

Use these phrases to compare customs.

• In my country, we drive on...У моїй країні ми їздимо по...In my country, we drive on the right.
• It's different from...Це відрізняється від...Driving in the UK is different from driving at home.
• It's the same as...Це те саме, що...The rules are the same as in France.
• It's similar to...Це схоже на...The system is similar to the one in Japan.
• Unlike...,На відміну від...,Unlike Ukraine, the UK drives on the left.
• ..., which means that......, що означає, що...The wheel is on the right, which means that you sit differently.
• ..., which is why......, ось чому...Britain kept to the left, which is why many countries did too.
• ..., whereas......, тоді як...Most countries drive on the right, whereas some drive on the left.

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. Most countries drive on the right.
   TrueFalse
2. Sweden changed to driving on the right in 1967.
   TrueFalse
3. Historians are completely sure about the sword explanation.
   TrueFalse
4. The United Kingdom drives on the right.
   TrueFalse
5. Tourists may need time to adapt to a different lane.
   TrueFalse

1. Do you think a country should ever change its side of the road?
2. Why do traditions like this last for centuries?
3. What other rules differ from country to country?
4. How can tourists prepare for different rules?

Common mistakes: commas in non-defining clauses, which instead of that, and the same as. ✗ Sweden, that drove on the left → Sweden, which drove on the left. ✗ different than → different from.

1. Sweden,
   thatwhich
   drove on the left until 1967, changed in a day.
2. My uncle,
   whothat
   lives in Leeds, drives on the left.
3. He drove on the wrong side,
   whichwhat
   was dangerous.
4. The rules are the same
   asthan
   in France.
5. It is different
   fromwith
   my country.
6. UnlikeLike
   Ukraine, the UK drives on the left.
7. It's similar
   withto
   the system in Japan.
8. Most countries drive on the right,
   despitewhereas
   some drive on the left.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. Sweden, that drove on the left, changed in 1967. →
2. My uncle, that lives in Leeds, drives on the left. →
3. The rules are same as in France. →
4. It is different than my country. →
5. Like Ukraine, the UK drives on the left. →
6. Britain kept to the left, what is why many countries did. →

Answer in detail. Use non-defining clauses and the same as, different from and unlike.

1. Which side do people drive on in your country?
2. Have you ever driven or travelled in a country with different traffic rules?
3. What other rules are different from country to country?
4. Why do you think customs differ so much?
5. What is the strangest rule you know of, which surprised you?
6. Do you prefer driving, cycling or walking in a city?

Three people have different experiences of traffic rules. Compare them. Who finds the rules the most difficult? Who knows the most? What advice would you give each one?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: describe the traffic rules in your country (which, where).
3. Part 2: compare them with another country (the same as, different from).
4. Part 3: the strangest rule or custom you know.

1. Which side do people drive on in your country?
2. Do you drive?
3. Have you ever driven abroad?
4. What is the most confusing road sign you know?
5. Do you prefer being a driver or a passenger?
6. What is your favourite way to travel?
7. Have you ever been in a traffic jam?
8. What is the traffic like in your town?

1. Who in your family drives well?
2. Who gives you lifts?
3. Who always gets lost?
4. Who has driven in another country?
5. Who do you know that doesn't like driving?
6. Who taught you to drive or to ride a bike?

1. Should every country drive on the same side?
2. Should speed limits be stricter?
3. Are roundabouts better than traffic lights?
4. Should old cars be banned from city centres?
5. Is it dangerous to change rules suddenly?