Copy of `BMW - Road safety terms`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

BMW - Road safety terms Category: Travel and Transportation > Road safety Date & country: 30/11/2007, UK Words: 21

Belisha Beacon
the black and white pole with a flashing amber light on top, which forms part of a Zebra crossing. Named after the Minister of Transport who introduced them, Mr Hore Belisha.

Casualty
a person killed or injured in a crash. One road crash may give rise to several casualties.

Cat's Eyes
reflectors set into the road. These shine light back at drivers and show them where the centre or edge of the road is. These were invented after it was noticed that the eyes of a cat reflect light.

Fluorescent
special colours which appear to shine brightly in the day, such as yellow (often used for road workers jackets).

Goods Vehicle
a vehicle designed or made for carrying large amounts of things, rather than carrying people. These can range from vans to large lorries.

Harness
a specially designed restraint to keep children secure in their child seats.

Helmet
what cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders wear to protect their head.

Highway Code
a system of rules and regulations for all road users. The 'highway code' booklet covers the main topics.

Passengers
occupants of vehicles other than the person in control (driver or rider).

Pedestrian
a person traveling from one place to another by walking.

Pelican Crossing
a Pedestrian Light Controlled crossing - a set of traffic lights just to stop traffic to help pedestrians cross the road more safely. The lights are set off by pedestrians pressing a button at the roadside.

Puffin Crossing
a Pedestrian User Friendly Intelligent crossing - a more advanced version of a Pelican crossing. They have sensors which can tell how quickly you are crossing the road, and allow extra time for those moving slowly. Does not have a flashing green man/flashing amber phase, but operates like the pedestrian part of traffic lights at a road junction. Particularly suitable for older people and people with mobility difficulties.

Reflective
anything which bounces light back towards its source. Reflective materials are effective at night to reflect light from headlights back at drivers.

Reflectors
Special reflective items - usually made out of hard plastic - which bounce light back towards its source. Red reflectors are used on the back of all vehicles.

Road Users
a term used to include all pedestrians, vehicle riders, drivers and passengers.

Safer Crossing Places
special places to cross the road. These are where traffic stops for you to cross (such as Pelican, Puffin and Zebra crossings, or remove you from the traffic (such as Subways and Footbridges).

Speed Limits
the maximum permitted speeds on a given type of road - NOT safe speeds to travel at!

Toucan Crossing
a crossing for cyclists and pedestrians to both use - so 'Two-can' cross at the same time.

Traffic
this is the word for lots of vehicles that are coming and going. A road may have 'heavy traffic' (a lot of vehicles traveling on it) or 'light traffic' (very few vehicles traveling on it). Parked vehicles are not traffic, as they are not trying to come or go.

Vehicle
any machine that carries a person. This might be a machine with an engine (like a car) or a machine for which you have to provide the motion (like a bicycle). Usually road vehicles have wheels, but some have special 'caterpillar tracks' to help them move over rough ground.

Zebra Crossing
named after the black and white stripes on the road and Belisha Beacon poles.