📘 Part 3: Transport & Travel

This episode's vocabulary

Drastically (adverb) – in a way that is likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect. → Example sentence: People need to change the way they travel drastically to protect the environment.

Pass the point of no return (idiom) – to reach a stage where you can no longer change your course of action. → Example sentence: I think, honestly, we've passed the point of no return in that regard.

Best-case scenario (noun) – the most favourable possible outcome. → Example sentence: The best-case scenario is just managing the decline of what we have, sadly.

Pessimistic (adjective) – tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. → Example sentence: I know that's a bit pessimistic, but no one seems to have been able to make a serious effort so far.

Emissions (noun) – the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation. → Example sentence: If vehicles are moving around, there will be more pollution, given all the emissions from engines.

Automated cars (noun) – cars that are capable of sensing their environment and moving safely with little or no human input. → Example sentence: Lots of people think that having automated cars will make accidents less likely.

Complex (adjective) – consisting of many different and connected parts. → Example sentence: I suppose the transportation systems in cities are more complex than the ones in the countryside.

Traffic flow (noun) – the movement of vehicles along a route. → Example sentence: In cities, you'll probably need more ways to manage the traffic flow.

Urban / Rural areas (noun) – areas located in a city / areas located in the countryside. → Example sentence: How are the transportation systems in urban areas and rural areas different?

Obey speed limits (phrase) – to drive no faster than the maximum legal speed. → Example sentence: A way to make car journeys safer is for drivers to obey speed limits.

Sober (adjective) – not affected by alcohol; not drunk. → Example sentence: People could be more focused on the road, and they could be sober.

Buckle your seatbelt (phrase) – to fasten the belt that holds you in your seat in a car or a plane. → Example sentence: The first thing you should do to be safe in a car is to buckle your seatbelt.

Driverless cars (noun) – another term for automated cars; vehicles that can operate without a human driver. → Example sentence: We call them electric cars, or driverless cars.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Which form of vehicle is more popular in your country? Bikes, cars or motorcycles?

Rory: I think it's safe to say it's still the car at this point. Most people have their own and if they don't then they certainly share rides with others all the time rather than take the bus. It's easy to see why because it can get you from A to B without long waits or having to get off at various stops and things. It's also faster than a bike, unless there are major roadworks or something like that.

Maria: And what kind of vehicles will be popular in the future, do you think?

Rory: I think again it's probably going to be cars just because there are already so many of them and it's an expectation people have that they will get a car of their own and relying on things like public transport is just something you do while you are waiting to own your own car.

Maria: How are the transportation systems in urban areas and rural areas different?

Rory: I've not really thought about that before. I suppose the ones in cities are more complex than the ones in the countryside, since there are more people and so more kinds of transport in general. That means you'll probably need more ways to manage the traffic flow or there could be accidents. Outside the city, there are probably fewer cars and buses generally speaking, so less management is needed. Though, you might need wider roads for more lorries and tractors from the farms, for example.

Maria: Do you think people need to change the way of transportation drastically to protect the environment?

Rory: I think, honestly, we've passed the point of no return in that regard. Even if we reduce the number of cars to zero and everyone just used electric buses or trains, the damage has already been done and I don't think we even have the infrastructure for it. The best-case scenario is just managing the decline of what we have sadly. I know that's a bit pessimistic, but no one seems to have been willing or able to make a serious effort so far.

Maria: Do you think air pollution comes mostly from mobile vehicles?

Rory: Well, yes, if they're moving around then there will be more pollution than if they are immobile, given all the emissions from engines. I suppose if you mean in comparison to things like factories and power plants then I'm not sure though. It's maybe easier to install things like scrubbers in factories and there are fewer of them. So maybe there's more stuff in the air from cars and the like after all.

Maria: How can car journeys be made safer?

Rory: Well, lots of people think that having automated cars with just centrally controlled systems will make accidents less likely. Possibly having fewer cars on the roads will also do the same thing because fewer cars should equal fewer accidents. I'm not sure how else they could be made safer really. I'm not an expert in automobile design.

Maria: What's the future of electric cars?

Rory: That's a very good question. You would imagine the future would be quite bright since, of course, lots of people are saying that we need more electrical vehicles compared to just non-electric vehicles. However, the elements that are used to make those cars and their batteries come from very far away and I think they also have a limited supply. So it's not entirely clear what the future will be. I'd like to be optimistic and say there will be more of them but I can't say for sure.

Maria: Do you think it's a good trend to have electric cars in the future?

Rory: Well, a good trend for who? It's obviously great for the people that sell the cars. And it might be good for the people that have to breathe the air near roads if there are more electric vehicles. However, what about the people who live in the places where we are extracting these materials to make these cars from? I don't think they will be very happy at having their land destroyed so we can mine minerals for them.