The Basic Components of Road Transportation

Transportation is a system consisting mainly of three components: 1) driver, 2) vehicle, 3) road. If it is designed to provide safe and efficient transportation systems, it is necessary that all these three components should function in a well-coordinated manner.

Driver. Of all the three components driver is the most powerful component influencing safety on a road. Studies have shown that about 86% of the serious accidents are caused by drivers.

Vehicle. Just like an unsafe driver, an unsafe vehicle is a source of constant danger in a road transportation system. With the growing number of old vehicles the risk of accidents on roads has also been growing considerably. This risk could be minimized by elimination of unsafe vehicles from roads. One way of doing it is to carry out periodical inspection of old vehicles.

Road. To ensure maximum safety for the transportation system, it is very necessary to plan and design highways on sound engineering techniques. It is possible to obtain maximum safety on highways by controlling their geometry, alignment, vertical and horizontal curves.

The traffic on the road has completely altered within the last twenty-five years and therefore the existing system of roads in many countries should be changed in order to meet modern requirements. The present-day trend is towards national uniform planning, design and construction.

Task 6

Answer the following questions using the information from the text above.

1. What are the main components of the road transportation system?

2. Which component influences safety on roads most of all?

3. How could the risk of road accidents be minimized?

4. How is it possible to ensure maximum safety on roads?

5. What is the modern trend in changing the existing system of roads in many countries?

Task 7

Fill in prepositions wherever necessary. Consult the text above.

1. The greater part …. serious road accidents are caused .… careless drivers.

2. The risk …. road accidents can be minimized .…elimination .… unsafe vehicles .… roads.

3. All the components …. a road transportation system should function …. a well-coordinated manner.

4. To ensure maximum safety .… the transportation system, it is necessary to design highways …. high-quality engineering techniques.

5. …. the growing number …. old vehicles the risk …. accidents …. roads has also been growing.

Task 8

Transform the following sentences according to the model. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian (Russian).

Model

Roads must /should be constructed according to well-coordinated national planning.  It is necessary to construct roads according to well-coordinated national planning.

1. Inspection of old vehicles should be carried out periodically.

2. The risk of accidents on roads must be minimized.

3. Highways should be designed on sound engineering techniques.

4. Unsafe vehicles must be eliminated from roads.

5.The existing system of roads in Ukraine should be changed.

6. Maximum safety on highways should be obtained by controlling their geometry, alignment, vertical and horizontal curves.

Task 9

Give English equivalents of the following word-combinations.

1. Безпека, безпека на дорогах, досягти максимальної безпеки на дорогах, аварія, причина аварії, усунути причини аварій.

2. Сучасні технології, якісно розроблені технології, застосовувати сучасні технології.

3. Система доріг, існуюча система доріг, змінити існуючу систему доріг.

4. Параметри доріг, контроль параметрів доріг, забезпечити сучасний контроль параметрів доріг.

5. Крива дороги, горизонтальна крива дороги, подовжня крива дороги, проектувати горизонтальну криву дороги, проводити контроль подовжньої кривої дороги.

6. Дорожнє будівництво, технологія дорожнього будівництва, якісно розроблені технології дорожнього будівництва, використовувати якісно розроблені технології дорожнього будівництва.

7. Функціонувати, функціонувати злагоджено.

8. Технологія дорожнього будівництва.

Task 10

Translate the sentences into English using the vocabulary from the text above and from the glossary list at the back of the book.

1. Необхідно звести до мінімума аварійні ситуації на автодорогах.

2. Потрібно змінити існуючу систему доріг.

3. Важливо використовувати якісні технології дорожнього будівництва.

4. Необхідно забезпечити сучасний контроль параметрів доріг, а саме, контроль подовжньої кривої дороги, горизонтальної кривої дороги і профиля дороги.

5. Необхідно забезпечити стандартизоване планування у дорожньому будівництві.

6. Важливо, щоб усі компоненти транспортної системи функціонували злагоджено.

Task 11

Select appropriate statements from the list below to describe a safe and unsafe driver.

1. He may ignore the traffic rules.

2. He focuses his attention on driving.

3. He may speak or listen to the music when driving.

4. He doesn’t always use safety belts.

5. He may drive a car when drunk.

6. He has got poor driving experience.

7. He observes the traffic rules.

8. He prefers driving at a moderate speed.

9. He has broad driving experience.

10. He is fond of driving at top speed.