Driving Terminology and Phrases in Common Usage that All Learner Drivers Need to Know.

                             Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk!

Part One…Car Terminology

There are many phrases used by Driving Instructors and Driving Examiners in the English Speaking World that are not in general usage in everyday conversation. These are specific to Learning to Drive, Owning a car and are in use on the Driving Test. They need to be learnt and more importantly UNDERSTOOD! This article explores this Driving Language and attempts to give a clear explanation of the terms.

If you are not a natural English speaker or have just relocated to a country where English is the main language then in order to successfully progress safely on the road and of course to ultimately pass the Driving Test you will absolutely have to learn these driving related phrases!

Let’s start with those phrases that refer to the car and its equipment then move on to those words that describe a driving Technique. Finally we will talk about descriptions of the road, road signs and things that happen or take place on the road.

Car Terms

1.    Gas Pedal--- A commonly used term to describe the Accelerator pedal or throttle. It is a lot easier and much quicker for an Instructor to get a message through to the learner driver by saying “more Gas “ or “off the gas” than it is to say “please use the accelerator more” or “come off the accelerator pedal”. The word gas comes from the common description used in America for petrol which is Gasoline.

2.      Pedal Travel --- The distance any of your pedals will travel from start to finish. eg the clutch pedal has more travel than the brake pedal. The gas pedal again only has a limited distance to travel from zero to fully down to the floor.

3.      Tread Depth--- The depth of rubber on a Tyre Tread measured in Millimetres At full depth or brand new, the tread depth is approximately 8mm.The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm at which level your tyre is 85% worn out .Remember you may be within the legal limit but in many circumstances you will be at a lethal level of adhesion to the road.

4.      Side Wall--- The side of a tyre which is very much more visible that the tyre tread. This part of the Tyre is much thinner than the Tread and is very susceptible to knocks, bumps and scrapes. Checking for cuts splits and bulges should be a daily chore since any of these can lead to a blow out causing an accident. Any of these evident will require you to scrap the tyre and fit a new one immediately.

5.      Steering Lock--- The movement of the steering wheel in either direction. Not to be confused with the Steering Wheel Lock which is a locking device incorporated in the Steering Wheel.

6.      Reservoir--- There are several reservoirs under the bonnet of each car. They all hold fluids of different types and are essential pieces of equipment. They are therefore part of essential weekly checks that you should be performing on your car. These checks form part of the Driving Test in both Ireland and the U.K and throughout the E.U. Not all these reservoirs are see- through, nor are they all in the same place in every model of car.

7.      Dip Stick--- the device used for checking the oil level in every car. Not always easy to spot unless the particular manufacturer has taken the trouble to colour code the important pieces of equipment. Colour coded reservoirs and equipment is a sign of a very high calibre manufacturer!

8.      Filler Cap--- The place where the life blood of your Engine is poured. Namely the Engine Oil!

9.     Alternator--- The important piece of electrical kit that charges the battery. Always visible at the front of the engine compartment.

10.   Coolant--- the chemical fluid used in the cooling system. Water on its own is not used in any cars today .This is usually replaced very two years.

 This concludes the car terms part of this tutorial and the Driving Techniques phrases follow in part two.