Unit 16 :
Drunk Driving

 Pre- intermediate

Summary

To learn the effects of being drunk when driving.

  • Brain Storm : Share your ideas with your teacher. Try to make sentences.

Is it okay to drive when you are drunk? What are the rules of your country?

Vocabulary

Repeat the following words and phrases with your teacher and use them in a sentence.

  • crashed (v)
  • had a few (phr)
  • break (n)
  • hand over (phr)
  • pulled over (phr)
  • violated (v)
  • offence (n)
  • committed (v)
  • negligence (n)
  • pardon (v)

Dialogue 1

Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Don

Carla

Its hot! Let’s stop and get a few before we go home.

More beer?! Haven’t you learned?! It hasn’t been 6 months ago that you crashed your car because you “had a few.”

Oh, give me a break! I’m not going to drink that much.

You’re right because we’re not stopping. Hand over the keys.

You think I can’t drive?! I drive better after a few!

Yeah right, like you did six months ago. The keys please!

OK, fine go ahead and drive. I’ll just sit back and finish my beer.

No way! I could be pulled over and cited because you’re drinking. Now, throw that bottle away. I’ll be the designated driver because I haven’t been drinking.

Ok, so long as we get home safely.

Let’s practice

 In the table below, write down some of the skills you think people need to drive a moped, motorbike or car well. There are some prompt words which might help you think about different aspects of driving. An example has been added to start you off.

Skills needed to drive a vehicle or motorbike well.

  • Pedestrians
  • Other drivers
  • Eyesight
  • Darkness
  • Speed
  • Road signs
  • Experience of driving
  • Coordination
  • Judging distances
  • Hearing

1. You need to judge distances so you keep a safe distance from other vehicles

2.

3.

4.

5.

Dialogue 2

Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Policeman

Kumar

Hey! Stop your car.

(Stopping her car, surprisingly). What is the matter?

You have violated the traffic rule.

What are you saying? I haven’t committed any offence.

Don’t tell a lie. You drunken and driving car. Such negligence may cause an accident.

(Realizing his mistake) Oh! I am extremely sorry. In fact I am conscious and did not drink too much.

But you are expected to drive carefully and cautiously on the road.

Would you please pardon me this time?

How can we allow people like you to create chaos on the roads? Traffic police is for your safety. I am making your challan. Take out your driving license.

(Showing her driving licence) It is my driving license. Please try to understand me. I assure I will be more careful in future.

Please don’t try to argue, and give me Rs.100/-. It is the minimum penalty.

 Try to realize my helplessness. I have only 100 rupees in my violet,I may need it. My friend is seriously ill. I am going to her house to inquire about her health.

I am actually in one of my friends birthday with but suddenly his father call me told me about him

Okay, okay….. you are being pardoned this time. Hereafter follow traffic rules carefully.

(Having a sigh of relief) Thank you. I promise u never drunk and drive next time

 

Let’s practice

Now fill in the table below to show the main effects of drinking alcohol on the body. There are two columns.In the first, add the main physical effects of drinking alcohol on your body (what happens in the short term, not the effects of long-term drinking). In the second column, write down how drinking alcohol can change people’s behaviour.

Effects of alcohol on the body

1. Slows down your speed of reaction.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Possible effects of alcohol on behaviour

1. Can make you more aggressive.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Discussion：

Share your  ideas with your teacher.

  1.  Are the penalties for drinking and driving strict enough in your country?
  2. Do people in your country follow the drink driving laws? Have you ever been over the limit while driving? 
  3. Do passengers have a responsibility to stop drunk people from driving?