TRAFFIC LIGHTS in the United States turn green when the cars can advance and red when the cars must stop. There is also the amber or "yellow" light which serves to warn motorists that the light is about to turn red, but that it is okay to go through it, as long as you are not in the intersection when it turns red. Traffic lights are also called "stop lights".
Brazilians say that the traffic light opens or closes, meaning that the light, when green, allows cars to advance and when red, cars must stop. The amber or yellow light means you must stop. You cannot lawfully go through the amber light.
On another note, I want to mention that Brazil has posted STOP SIGNS, which are only there for decoration...well at least they are in São Paulo and Rio! Some interior cities do obey stop signs.
Also, in the big cities, when the power goes out and you come to intersections (with four-way approaching traffic), they do not respect the 4-way stop rule. It's every man for himself at that time, guys! Oh, in case you don't know what the 4-way stop rule is, I'll explain:
If a car to your right gets to the intersection first, that car must first stop and you allow them to go first through the intersection because they have the right-of-way, since the power is out and the traffic light is not working. Even at a four-way intersection with stop signs, the same rules apply. Every car that approaches the intersection must allow the car to the right to go first, IF that car reaches the intersection ahead of them. All cars approaching the intersection must stop before proceeding. That gives ORDER to the sequence of cars crossing the intersection. If you don't follow this rule, then the potential for taking advantage of others increases and so does the possibility of collisions in the intersection!
In the USA, 4-way stops during power outages, work well and are strictly enforced by law.
Hope you enjoyed this piece of information! You are that much closer to speaking excellent American English!
No comments:
Post a Comment