English, baby!

Hang up and drive

Date: Sep 07 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Americans love to multitask. You’ll see them reading and eating or cooking and watching TV. Sometimes you see people driving and talking on the phone. Well, usually you see these people heading rapidly toward you, blabbing away, blind to the fact that you exist.

Needless to say, driving and talking on the phone can be pretty dangerous. In fact, Kevin almost died at the hands of a driver on the phone. Listen to him tell Amanda about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Amanda

Kevin: So I’m running the other day, and some idiot in a Chevy Suburban was on his cell and almost runs me over and then honks at me.

Amanda: How do you feel about that? Do you ever talk on our cell phone when you’re driving, ever?

Kevin: I don’t own a car.

Amanda: Oh, so I guess that’s a no. You know, I feel the same way because there’s some statistic that said when you’re on a cell phone, whether you’re holding it or you have the little Bluetooth, it’s about as bad as having three cocktails.

Kevin: Really?

Amanda: That’s how much it affects your judgment when you’re driving as far as your response time, and when you think about it that way or look at it that way, it’s pretty scary.

Kevin: And you know, you just see people doing it all the time, you know, it’s really ridiculous. Do you do it?

Amanda: Only if I’m going about 20 miles an hour or less, that’s the general rule for me. But you know what’s tough too is texting. People will keep their phone down on the fly and be texting like crazy, not looking ahead…

Kevin: Which to me seems worse because you have to be looking down at the screen, whereas if you’re talking at least you can hold it at the side.

Amanda: Absolutely. But I think the reason they’re doing that is to be stealth so that they can communicate without other drivers seeing that they’re actually on the phone.

Kevin: Might as well be reading a book.

Amanda: Pretty much. Or shaving.

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Discussion

Kevin was out running the other day when someone almost ran him over with his very large car. Then the driver had the nerve to honk at Kevin. He probably had no idea what was going on because he was on his phone the whole time.

Amanda says that according to a study, talking on the phone while driving is just as bad as drinking three cocktails and getting behind the wheel. Since drunk driving illegal and widely regarded as a very bad thing to do, Amanda and Kevin agree that talking on the phone and driving is very dangerous.

Nonetheless, Amanda talks on the phone sometimes when she’s driving, but only when she’s going really slow. But that’s not as bad as texting and driving, which is something Amanda has seen people do. She thinks they do it because unlike talking on the phone, the other drivers can’t necessarily see you texting. Kevin thinks texting and driving is much worse than talking and driving. He jokes that it’s as bad as reading a book behind the wheel. Amanda says it’s as bad as shaving on the road.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever seen someone do while driving?

Comments

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Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

the silliest thing in driving is driving with closed eyes. even if ur going to do it for afew sec.u dont know what will happen maybe in the secounds that u have closed ur eyes to show others that u have this ablility;ur going to make a big accident .the other is that talking on the phone while driving.i have seen so many drivers that they speak with the passengers alot and looking at them while speaking with them in this way they are going to pay attenition to both the passenger and the road so the risk of having an accident is high

aryan12o

India

talking on the phone while driving is even more dangerous than drunk drive .

mohamadsaleh

Kuwait

it is a good lesson.

vivi bulat

Romania

Hi,

It must to be very dangerous to drive and talk on phone or do other things which disturb your atention to driving!

There a lot of accidents in America because of that!

Do you realize it?????

taccu

Finland

its illegal drive and talking to phone at the same time here

taccu

Finland

here its illegal drive and talkng to phone at the same time.

juliocabezon

Colombia

THAT´S TRUE, IT´S VERY DANGEROUS, IF U WANNA GET IN A HOSPITAL, JUST DO IT, DRIVE AND TALK ON THE PHONE AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IF YOU WANNA LIVE AND DON´T HURT PEOPLE ON STREETS, JUST STOP THE CAR AND TALK…...IS YOUR CHOICE….BUT THINK ABOUT IT!!!

hraza

Pakistan

talk over the phone during the driving is not dangerious not only the the person who is talking over the phone but also for the others.

such type of person should be fined.and there mobile phone should b captured by the authorities.

vivi bulat

Romania

Hi all,

I think is a crime to drive while your are driving your car. In US is necessary a LAW which forbides that!!!

A lot of people every day are talking on cell phone and driving…I hope SOMEBODY will realize it!!!!

God bless you all!

alaaasd

Jordan

eatig eifh driving that very bad

thaidh

Viet Nam

yes, its very very dangerous!

anglegwj

China

I think it's very dangours to hang up when you are driving , beacause we'll be easy to lose concertration. so for our liver and the people who love us ,please don't do this

M.JEYADAVADOSSAR

India

While driving even thinking about anything except driving is very very dangerous.

pop272001

Indonesia

it's very difficult to understand that compersation! my english 's not good to hear quickly..and neither is grammar .

omar sepulveda

Colombia

well I am agree wiht the bodies say here.all meaning tha it is dangerous driving and talking you can to do tha some body stops living.

omar sepulveda

Colombia

hi my name is omar I am from colombia this is a good place to live,drivers here driving and talking in the same time a lot.zorry I don not know to speak english very good.can some body help me.I SPEAK SPANISH.

esllab

Åland Islands

Unfortunately, talking and driving is not illegal in most parts of the US. I wish it was… completely. Not even with hands-free. People in California have a hard enough time driving without being on their cell phones