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Meaning of word "Jaywalker"

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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms

Difference between collect and gather | How to cope with this sentence?

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#16 (permalink) Fri May 12, 2006 15:08 pm Jaywalkers and 'jaydrivers'

Yankee wrote:

A word that comes to mind is the verb "to tailgate" which involves driving much too close behind the car in front of you. So, you're driving dangerously because you wouldn't be able to stop in time if the car in front of you were to stop suddenly. Tailgating happens sometimes in the US. Here in Germany it happens much more often --- and at higher speeds. Shocked

Shocked

Although men seem to be much more likely to tailgate, I've seen women do it, too.

Another word that I've always found funny is the verb "to rubberneck". I usually associate this word with driving, although you could probably find "rubberneckers" in other (non-driving) situations. In the US, I often used to hear something similar to the following sentences in the traffic reports on the radio:
"There is a 5-mile backup on I95 northbound due to a 3-car accident. Traffic in the southbound lanes is slow due to rubbernecking."

Interesting words, Amy, thank you! I also find 'rubbernecker' especially comical Laughing

Laughing

-- and I think rubbernecking is only too human, really.

Conchita
Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

#17 (permalink) Fri May 12, 2006 16:48 pm Jaywalkers and 'jaydrivers'

Yankee wrote:

Tailgating happens sometimes in the US. Here in Germany it happens much more often --- and at higher speeds. Shocked

Shocked

Although men seem to be much more likely to tailgate, I've seen women do it, too.

Amy, you must have been away from the US for a long time. When I left in 1991 there was not much tailgating, but when I came back in 1994 it was practically universal. People even form what I call tailgating caravans, where five or more cars are all tailgating each other. If you're to the left of one of those, and your exit is coming up, you'll have a tough time getting off the freeway. Even semi drivers tailgate now! I attibute it to the fact that teenagers don't have to see movies like "Mechanized Death" anymore before passing their driver's ed courses. If I get too close to someone or take too much of a risk, I still immediately see in my mind a smashed car containing a trapped, screaming woman who looks like ravioli.

Once I heard some sociologist on the radio who had made a study of driving behavior. The interviewer asked, "Who tailgates more, men or women?" He said they tailgate about equally, "But women do more of the ramming." YIPES! RAMMING?! Apparently in California, where the study was done, some people ram the back of cars that they think are going to slowly. I was really shocked.

Yankee wrote:

"There is a 5-mile backup on I95 northbound due to a 3-car accident. Traffic in the southbound lanes is slow due to rubbernecking."

In my town they say it's due to "gawkers". Same thing.

Often in Detroit the radio says that traffic is slow somewhere because of a carbecue, i.e., there's a car on fire.

People should also know about the term road rage, which means very aggressive, belligerent driving because of anger. There's a lot more now than there ever was 20 years ago. One of my friends claims it's caused by cupholders.

Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5334
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

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#18 (permalink) Fri May 12, 2006 18:55 pm Jaywalkers and 'jaydrivers'

Jamie (K) wrote:

Amy, you must have been away from the US for a long time. When I left in 1991 there was not much tailgating, but when I came back in 1994 it was practically universal.

Hi Jamie

You're right, I've been in Germany since 1989, but I go back to the States for a nice long "German-style" vacation (i.e. 4-6 weeks Wink

Wink

) every year. Tailgating naturally tends to be worse in heavily populated areas --- I assume both in the States and in Germany. But the tailgating (and also "dare devil driving") I've seen and experienced in this part of Germany is really something "special".

Most of my German friends don't classify tailgaters and aggressive drivers according to gender, but rather by what type of car they drive. The consensus is that BMW and Audi drivers tend to be the worst offenders.

One thing I'm glad about, though. At least Germans drive on the right side of the road. Wink

Wink

But speaking of national driving habits.... I once had an Italian student and he informed me that stopping at a red traffic light is seen as completely "optional" in Italy. Do you suppose that's really true or was he just 'pulling my leg'?

Amy

Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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