[uncountable]the way that somebody drives a vehicle; the act of drivingdangerous drivingdriving lessonsCollocationsDrivingHaving a carhave/own/(British English)run a carride a motorcycle/motorbikedrive/prefer/use an automatic/a manual/(North American English,informal) a stick shifthave/get your car serviced/fixed/repairedbuy/sell a used car/(especially British English) a second-hand cartake/pass/fail a (British English) driving test/(both North American English) driver’s test/road testget/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your (British English) driving licence/(North American English) driver’s licenseDrivingput on/fasten/(North American English)buckle/wear/undo your seat belt/safety beltput/turn/leave the key in the ignitionstart the car/engine(British English)change/(North American English)shift/put something into gearpress/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/acceleratorrelease the clutch/(especially British English) the handbrake/(both North American English) the emergency brake/the parking brakedrive/park/reverse the car(British English)indicate left/right(especially North American English)signal that you are turning left/righttake/miss(British English) the turning/(especially North American English) the turnapply/hit/slam on the brake(s)beep/honk/(especially British English)toot/(British English)sound your hornProblems and accidents a car skids/crashes (into something)/collides (with something)swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestriancrash/lose control of the carhave/be in/be killed in/survive a car crash/a car accident/(North American English) a car wreck/a hit-and-runbe run over/knocked down by a car/bus/truckdent/hit(British English) the bonnet/(North American English) the hoodbreak/crack/shatter(British English) the windscreen/(North American English) the windshieldblow/(especially British English)burst/puncture(British English) a tyre/(North American English) a tireget/have(British English) a flat tyre/a flat tire/a punctureinflate/change/fit/replace/check a tyre/tire Traffic and driving regulationsbe caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jamcause congestion/tailbacks/traffic jams/gridlockexperience/face lengthy delaysbeat/avoid the traffic/the rush hourbreak/observe/(North American English)drive the speed limitbe caught on(British English) a speed camerastop somebody for/pull somebody over for/(British English,informal)be done for speeding(both informal)run/(British English)jump a red light/the lightsbe arrested for/charged with(British English) drink-driving/(both US English) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)be banned/(British English)disqualified from drivingWordfindercaraccelerate,brake,car,commute,driving,licence,motorist,road,road tax,trafficCulturedrivingAmericans have long had a ‘love affair’ with the automobile (also car), and are surprised when they meet somebody who cannot drive. Almost everybody over the age of 15 is a driver and most households have a vehicle. American life is arranged so that people can do most things from their cars. There are drive-in banks, post offices, restaurants, movie theatres and even some churches.In Britain the proportion of the population who are drivers is slightly less but, as in the US, many people prefer to use their car rather than public transport, because it is more convenient and because they like to be independent. In order to reduce pollution the government tries to discourage car ownership by making driving expensive. In particular, it puts a heavy tax on fuel and increases the annual road tax for cars that cause heavy pollution. Congestion charging is used to persuade people to avoid driving their cars in city centres.To many people the make and quality of their car reflects their status in society, and it is important to them to get a smart new car every few years. In Britain since 2001 the registration number of a car shows the place and date of registration but older number plates can be used and a personalized number plate(= a registration number that spells out the owner's name or initials) may also suggest status. Many people prefer to buy a small, economical car, or get a second-hand one. Cars in the US are often larger than those in Britain and though fuel is cheaper, insurance is expensive. In the US car license plates, commonly called tags, are given by the states. New ones must be bought every two or three years, or when a driver moves to another state. The states use the plates to advertise themselves: Alabama plates say ‘The heart of Dixie’ and have a small heart on them, and Illinois has ‘The land of Lincoln’.In Britain, before a person can get a driving licence they must pass an official driving test, which includes a written test of the Highway Code(= the rules that all road users must obey) and a practical driving exam. Only people aged 17 or over are allowed to drive. Learner drivers who have a provisional driving licence must display an L-plate, a large red ‘L’, on their car, and be supervised by a qualified driver. The US has no national driver's license (AmE), but instead licences are issued by each state. Most require written tests, an eye test and a short practical test. The minimum age for getting a licence is normally 16, although some states will issue a learner's permit to drivers as young as 14. Many states now apply a system of graduated licenses in which young drivers are first required to have an intermediate license for a period of time before being given a full license. An intermediate licence may, for example, prevent driving alone at particular times of the day or require the driver to take special classes if they drive badly. Americans have to get a new driver's license if they move to another state.In Britain people drive on the left and in the US they drive on the right. Generally British and US drivers are relatively careful and courteous but there is dangerous driving. In the US many of the deaths due to traffic accidents are caused by drivers who have drunk alcohol. Drink-driving (AmEdriving under the influence or driving while intoxicated) (= driving a car after drinking alcohol) is also a serious problem in Britain. On many British roads speed cameras have been set up to catch drivers who go too fast. In the US the main job of state highway patrols is to prevent speeding.Many drivers belong to a motoring organization in case their car breaks down. In Britain the main ones are the AA (Automobile Association) and the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), and in the US the largest is the American Automobile Association.Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectivegood,safe,aggressive,…verb + drivingdo the,be banned from,be disqualified from,…driving + nounconditions,seat,test,…phrasesdriving under the influence,driving while intoxicatedSeefull entry
Extra examplesHe was banned from driving for six months after failing a breath test.I usually do the driving and he navigates.Most people who own a Jeep never use it for off-road driving.Police stopped 30 motorists for drink driving on New Year’s Eve.She was charged with reckless driving.She was given a large fine and a two-year driving ban.There wasn’t enough evidence for a dangerous driving charge.a new campaign to promote safe drivingIdioms
be in the driving seat(British English)(North American Englishbe in the driver’s seat)
