Imagine you’re telling a friend about your morning commute. You want to paint a vivid picture of the bustling city streets, the occasional traffic jam, the rhythm of traffic lights changing. But, are you finding it hard to find the right words? If your answer is yes, then you need to learn English collocations related to traffic. Ready to discover the magic of these collocations and how they can make your stories about daily life more vibrant?
Let’s buckle up and navigate our way through 29 common English collocations related to traffic.
1. Heavy traffic: A lot of vehicles on the road.
Example: I was late to work because of heavy traffic.
2. Rush hour: The time of day when traffic is the busiest.
Example: Try to avoid the freeway during rush hour.
3. Traffic jam: A long line of vehicles that cannot move or that can only move very slowly.
Example: We were stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour.
4. One-way street: A street where vehicles can only travel in one direction.
Example: Remember, Main Street is a one-way street.
5. Traffic light: A road signal for directing vehicle traffic.
Example: The traffic light at the intersection isn’t working.
6. Zebra crossing: A pedestrian crossing marked with black and white stripes.
Example: Always use the zebra crossing when you want to cross the road.
7. Speed limit: The maximum speed at which a vehicle may legally travel.
Example: The speed limit on this road is 35 miles per hour.
8. Lane closure: When one or more lanes of a road are closed for construction or repair.
Example: The lane closure caused a delay in my commute.
9. Pedestrian zone: An area of a town or city reserved for pedestrian use where most or all automobile traffic may be prohibited.
Example: The city center has been turned into a pedestrian zone.
10. Traffic circle/roundabout: A type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island.
Example: Take the third exit on the traffic circle.
11. Dual carriageway: A road which includes a central reservation to separate traffic traveling in opposite directions.
Example: The dual carriageway has significantly reduced traffic accidents in the area.
12. Traffic congestion: When there are too many cars causing slow movement.
Example: The city is trying to find solutions to reduce traffic congestion.
13. Busy intersection: A place where two or more roads meet and are heavily trafficked.
Example: The busy intersection is known for its frequent fender-benders.
14. Bottle neck: A point of congestion or blockage.
Example: Road construction has caused a bottle neck on the highway.
15. Gridlock: A traffic jam affecting a large number of vehicles around a city.
Example: The unexpected parade caused gridlock downtown.
16. Tailback: A line of vehicles waiting behind something.
Example: The accident caused a tailback of several miles.
17. Road rage: Aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of a vehicle.
Example: It’s important to stay calm and avoid road rage.
18. Bumper-to-bumper: Traffic that is so heavy that cars are moving very slowly or not at all.
Example: It was bumper-to-bumper on the highway this morning.
19. School zone: A section of a street near a school where the speed limit is reduced.
Example: Be careful driving in the school zone.
20. Blind spot: An area where a driver cannot see behind their vehicle.
Example: Always check your blind spot before changing lanes.
21. No parking zone: An area where vehicles are not allowed to park.
Example: If you park in a no parking zone, you risk getting a ticket.
22. Crosswalk: A marked part of a road where pedestrians have right of way to cross.
Example: The man waited for the cars to stop before he crossed at the crosswalk.
23. Merge lane: A lane on the highway that is used for merging traffic.
Example: She signaled before moving into the merge lane.
24. Parking meter: A device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time.
Example: Don’t forget to feed the parking meter.
25. Pavement parking: The practice of parking a vehicle partially or fully on the sidewalk or pavement.
Example: Pavement parking is prohibited in this city.
26. Yellow box junction: A road traffic control measure designed to prevent congestion and gridlock at junctions.
Example: Don’t enter the yellow box junction unless your exit is clear.
27. Parking garage: A building designed for car parking.
Example: The parking garage is located two blocks from the mall.
28. Seat belt: A safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop.
Example: Always fasten your seat belt before driving.
29. Drunk driving: The act of driving under the effects of alcohol.
Example: Drunk driving is illegal and extremely dangerous.
By mastering these collocations, you’ll be ready to discuss anything from your daily commute to the city’s traffic policy. But don’t stop here! Continue to seek out new phrases and collocations. Remember, language is like a road; it’s always leading us somewhere new. So keep driving and discovering!
