PROHIBITORY OR RESTRICTIVE SIGNS

Prohibition signs are round with a red border and either a white or a yellow background. Parking prohibitions have a blue background. The signs that signal the end of a prohibition are white or yellow with a small black border and a black bar from left below to right top. The bar can be replaced by a series of small bars. In addition the symbol for which the end of prohibition is intended is given in gray.

The red border signs can also be used in electronic displays; in that case the background is black and the figure is white.

Prohibitory or restrictive signs are usually circular with red borders. Most signs have white or yellow background. A slash is used in certain countries to prohibit something. Most slashes are leftward, but rightward slashes are used in a few places, such as India, South Africa and Turkey.

Signs ending restrictions have a black border with rightward black bars. Some countries just add plates saying "END" or its equivalent languages.

International signs prohibiting parking and stopping have blue background. A single slash (mostly leftward, rightward in India) through the blue background in a red circle means no parking. Two slashes forming a cross through the blue background in a red circle means no stopping. Non-standard signs also exist in certain countries.

Most absolute speed limits should be replaced by prima facie speed limits based on 85th percentile speeds. Reasonable and prudent speeds keep changing and make speed cameras illogical. Unreasonable low limits crowd traffic and are more dangerous.

Excessive words on prohibitory and restrictive signs cause major problems in the United States and confuse foreign drivers not understanding English. Think how bad it is if a foreign motorist passes a sign saying "NO MOTOR VEHICLES" in words without understanding it.

Vocabulary

· to prohibit – забороняти

· manoeuvre – маневр

· bar – смуга, решітка

· intended – збиратися, призначити, приділити.

· rightward – направо

· slash – дріб

- 13 -

· reasonable and prudent – розумний

· illogical – нелогічний

· cause – спричиняти

· confuse – бентежити, хвилювати

· pass – пропустити

Ex. 2. Ask as more questions as possible to the text. / Поставте до тексту якомога більше питань:

Ex.3. Comment on the signs. Explain what they mean. / Прокоментуйте знаки. Поясніть їх значення:

- 14 -

Ex.4. Fill in the correct particle. / Поставте правильну частку:

1. The price of petrol is going ____ in many countries. (rising)