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ESL Worksheets: Traffic Safety Culture

Level: ESL High-Intermediate
Objectives: discuss factors that influence traffic safety or traffic culture, road users behavior and cultural differences on the road
Teacher Notes:
Write the following slogan on the board:
Ask who this slogan belongs to (American President Herbert Hoover) and the context in which it was used (during his 1928 presidential campaign).
Discuss its meaning (cars were/and still are often viewed as a symbol of status, power, prosperity and freedom).
Mention that while this American dream has come true and that over the years the cars have become much safer (better brakes, steering and tires, ABS), there’re multiple fatalities and injuries on the roads. Ask what factors affect road safety. Write the factors contributed by the students on the board.
Put students in pairs/small groups. Let them discuss the following question:
In your opinion, to what extent do the following factors affect road safety?
(1) very slightly or not at all      (2) a little    
(3) moderately      (4) a lot       (5) extremely
- driving skills (steering, braking, accelerating, choice of speed, adjusting driving to weather conditions)

- driver attitude towards other road users (yielding, showing respect, patience and consideration, using turn signals)

- age of vehicles

- road infrastructure (road design and maintenance, lane markings, sign clarity, lighting)

- driver education (new driver classes, advanced driving courses)

- compliance with driving laws and regulations (wearing seat belts, driving sober, observing signs)
Conclude that the factors above constitute traffic culture that varies from country to country. Drivers may seem chaotic or organized to different nationalities who come with their own driving abilities and habits to a particular country.
Hand out the worksheet. In Traffic Culture: Good or Poor? students match words to come up with facts and behaviors that make roads safer or more dangerous.
Discuss defensive driving, aggressive driving and road rage. Provide examples for each type of behavior.
In Cultural Tidbits students talk about ‘unwritten rules of the road' - local customs related to roads and styles of driving in different countries. (e.g.: Flashing headlights can mean a variety of things: a police speed trap, an intention to pass another driver or give way to other traffic, an indication to other road users to get out of the way.)
Wrap up with Conversation Questions.

Student Handout:

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Tuesday, August 09, 2011 AT 8:42 PM
Young Kim said:
Great website!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 AT 8:06 AM
Justis said:
THX that's a great asnwer!

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ESL Worksheet Traffic Safety Culture.pdf
