The transport secretary of the UK has stated that driverless cars could be seen on some roads by the end of 2026. He also mentioned that by that time, owners of these vehicles may be able to travel without having to pay attention to the road. The government has recently announced plans for new legislation to introduce automated driving to UK roads. However, critics argue that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to serious accidents.

The transport secretary emphasized the importance of a proper safety regime and expressed his confidence in the technology, as he has personally witnessed its use in California. He hopes that the legislation will pass through parliament by the end of 2024, and by as early as 2026, people will start seeing cars with full self-driving capabilities being rolled out. He also highlighted the potential benefits of this technology, such as improving road safety for all road users.

While fully automated vehicles have been tested extensively in the US and China, the UK has been more cautious in adopting them. Currently, some car models come with driver-assist technology, which can maintain a vehicle’s position in line with surrounding traffic and keep them in the correct lane. However, a human driver must still have their hands on the wheel and be looking at the road at all times. Only Ford’s Mustang Mach E allows UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway, but they must still keep their eyes on the road.

When asked if an autonomous car driving someone from the pub was a possibility, a Ford representative mentioned that the technology is not there yet. They believe that the technology, software, and regulations need to evolve further, and customer acceptance and affordability also need to be considered.

In conclusion, the UK government is working towards introducing driverless cars on UK roads by the end of 2026. The transport secretary believes in the potential of this technology to improve road safety and hopes that the necessary legislation will be passed soon. However, it is important to ensure that the technology is fully developed and safe before implementing it on a larger scale.

Original news source: Driverless cars: Tech possible for UK motorways by 2026, transport secretary says (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a different aspect of the article to focus on (e.g. driverless cars on UK roads, potential benefits, concerns, etc.). In their groups, students should summarize their assigned aspect of the article in a short news report. After a few minutes, each group can present their news report to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class brainstorm a list of questions related to the topic of driverless cars. Divide the class into pairs or small groups and have them take turns asking each other the questions and discussing their opinions. After a set amount of time, bring the class back together and have a few groups share their most interesting or controversial opinions with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 10-15 key words or phrases from the article and write them on separate index cards. Divide the class into two teams and have one student from each team come to the front of the class. Show them the first index card and give them one minute to draw a picture that represents the word or phrase. The rest of their team must try to guess the word or phrase based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different students and index cards until all the words or phrases have been used.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the class think silently for a few minutes about their personal thoughts and opinions on the topic of driverless cars. Then, pair students up and have them discuss their thoughts and opinions with their partner. After a set amount of time, bring the class back together and have a few pairs share their most interesting or controversial ideas with the rest of the class.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a large sheet of paper. On one side of the paper, have the groups list the potential benefits or advantages of driverless cars based on the information in the article. On the other side of the paper, have them list the potential concerns or disadvantages. After a few minutes, have each group present their lists to the class and facilitate a discussion about the pros and cons of driverless cars.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the transport secretary of the UK’s prediction for the presence of driverless cars on roads by the end of 2026?
2. What is the potential benefit of driverless cars, according to the transport secretary?
3. Why has the UK been more cautious in adopting fully automated vehicles compared to the US and China?
4. What is the current level of automation in car models in the UK?
5. What is the only car model in the UK that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway?
6. What are some factors that need to evolve further before autonomous cars can become a reality, according to a Ford representative?
7. What is the transport secretary’s stance on ensuring the safety of driverless cars before implementing them on a larger scale?
8. What is the timeline for the passage of legislation for automated driving in the UK, according to the transport secretary?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The transport secretary of the UK has stated that driverless cars could be seen on some roads by the end of 2026. He also mentioned that by that time, owners of these vehicles may be able to travel without having to pay (1)______ to the road. The government has recently announced plans for new legislation to introduce (2)______ driving to UK roads. However, critics argue that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to (3)______ accidents.

The transport secretary emphasized the importance of a proper safety regime and (4)______ his confidence in the (5)______, as he has personally witnessed its use in California. He hopes that the legislation will pass through parliament by the end of 2024, and by as early as 2026, people will start (6)______ cars with full self-driving capabilities being rolled out. He also highlighted the (7)______ benefits of this technology, such as improving road safety for all road (8)______.

While fully automated vehicles have been tested extensively in the US and China, the UK has been more cautious in adopting them. Currently, some car models come with driver-assist technology, which can maintain a vehicle’s position in line with surrounding traffic and keep them in the correct lane. However, a (9)______ driver must still have their (10)______ on the wheel and be looking at the road at all times. Only Ford’s Mustang Mach E (11)______ UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of (12)______, but they must still keep their eyes on the road.

When asked if an autonomous car driving someone from the pub was a possibility, a Ford representative mentioned that the technology is not there yet. They believe that the technology, software, and regulations need to evolve further, and customer acceptance and affordability also need to be considered.

In conclusion, the UK government is working towards introducing driverless cars on UK roads by the end of 2026. The transport secretary believes in the potential of this technology to improve road safety and (13)______ that the necessary (14)______ will be passed soon. However, it is important to (15)______ that the technology is fully developed and safe before (16)______ it on a larger scale.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the idea of driverless cars being on the roads by 2026?
2. How would you feel if you were able to travel in a car without having to pay attention to the road?
3. Do you think driverless cars will improve road safety? Why or why not?
4. What potential benefits do you see in the introduction of driverless cars?
5. How do you think the introduction of driverless cars will impact the job market for professional drivers?
6. Do you think driverless cars will be affordable for the average person? Why or why not?
7. What concerns or reservations do you have about the implementation of driverless cars?
8. Have you ever used driver-assist technology in a car? What was your experience like?
9. How do you think the introduction of driverless cars will change the way people use and interact with cars?
10. What do you think are the biggest challenges in developing fully autonomous vehicles?
11. How would you feel about being a passenger in a driverless car for a long road trip?
12. Do you think people will still want to own their own cars if driverless cars become widely available? Why or why not?
13. What impact do you think driverless cars will have on traffic congestion and overall transportation efficiency?
14. Have you ever seen a driverless car in person? If so, what was your reaction?
15. What do you think needs to happen for driverless cars to become widely accepted and adopted by the public?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. autonomous
2. legislation
3. cautious
4. adopting
5. extensively
6. maintain
7. stretches
8. representative
9. evolve
10. acceptance
11. affordability
12. implementing
13. potential
14. regime
15. critics

Meanings:
(A) To keep something in a specified state or condition
(B) The act of starting to use or follow something
(C) Capable of operating independently without human control
(D) To develop gradually, especially from a simpler to a more complex form
(E) Laws and regulations that are officially enacted
(F) People who express doubts about the success or effectiveness of something
(G) The process of putting a plan or system into operation
(H) The willingness to accept or tolerate something
(I) The inherent capacity for coming into being or achieving something
(J) In a thorough and comprehensive manner
(K) Being careful to avoid potential problems or dangers
(L) The state of being able to be bought or rented without causing financial strain
(M) A person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization
(N) A system or ordered way of doing things
(O) Long, continuous areas or periods of time
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to the article, when could driverless cars be seen on some roads in the UK?
(a) By the end of 2024
(b) By the end of 2026
(c) By the end of 2022
(d) By the end of 2028

2. What did the transport secretary mention about owners of driverless cars?
(a) They will still need to pay attention to the road
(b) They will not be allowed to travel on certain roads
(c) They may be able to travel without paying attention to the road
(d) They will have to pay a higher road tax

3. What did the transport secretary witness in California?
(a) The use of driverless cars
(b) A serious accident involving a driverless car
(c) The introduction of new legislation for driverless cars
(d) The improvement of road safety for all road users

4. How does the UK currently approach the adoption of driverless cars?
(a) Aggressively
(b) Indifferently
(c) Cautiously
(d) Enthusiastically

5. What is the current level of automation in car models in the UK?
(a) Full self-driving capabilities
(b) No automation
(c) Partial automation
(d) Driver-assist technology

6. Which car model allows UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway?
(a) Ford’s Mustang Mach E
(b) Tesla Model S
(c) BMW i3
(d) Volkswagen Golf

7. According to a Ford representative, what needs to happen before autonomous cars can drive someone from the pub?
(a) The government needs to pass new legislation
(b) The technology, software, and regulations need to evolve further
(c) The price of autonomous cars needs to decrease
(d) The roads need to be redesigned

8. What is the main concern when introducing driverless cars on UK roads?
(a) Making sure that the cars are affordable for everyone
(b) Training drivers to use the new technology
(c) Reducing traffic congestion on the roads
(d) Ensuring that the technology is fully developed and safe

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The legislation is not expected to pass through parliament by the end of 2024.
2. The government has not announced any plans for new legislation to introduce automated driving to UK roads.
3. The transport secretary emphasized the importance of a proper safety regime and expressed his confidence in the technology.
4. The transport secretary of the UK has not stated that driverless cars could be seen on some roads by the end of 2026.
5. By 2026, people may not start seeing cars with full self-driving capabilities being rolled out.
6. Ford’s Mustang Mach E allows UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway, but they must still keep their eyes on the road.
7. Currently, some car models in the UK come with driver-assist technology, but a human driver must still have their hands on the wheel and be looking at the road at all times.
8. Critics argue that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to serious accidents.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the timeline for the introduction of driverless cars on UK roads according to the transport secretary?
2. What potential benefits does the transport secretary mention regarding the use of driverless cars?
3. How does the UK’s cautious approach to adopting driverless cars differ from other countries?
4. What are the current limitations of driver-assist technology in the UK?
5. What factors need to be considered before autonomous cars can be used for transportation from places like pubs?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The transport secretary of the UK predicts that driverless cars could be seen on some roads by the end of 2026.
2. The potential benefit of driverless cars, according to the transport secretary, is improving road safety for all road users.
3. The UK has been more cautious in adopting fully automated vehicles compared to the US and China due to concerns about safety and the readiness of the technology.
4. The current level of automation in car models in the UK is driver-assist technology, which can maintain a vehicle’s position in line with surrounding traffic and keep them in the correct lane.
5. The only car model in the UK that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway is Ford’s Mustang Mach E.
6. According to a Ford representative, the technology, software, and regulations need to evolve further before autonomous cars can become a reality. Customer acceptance and affordability also need to be considered.
7. The transport secretary emphasizes the importance of a proper safety regime and ensuring that the technology is fully developed and safe before implementing driverless cars on a larger scale.
8. The transport secretary hopes that the legislation for automated driving will pass through parliament by the end of 2024, and by as early as 2026, people will start seeing cars with full self-driving capabilities being rolled out.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) attention
(2) automated
(3) serious
(4) expressed
(5) technology
(6) seeing
(7) potential
(8) users
(9) human
(10) hands
(11) allows
(12) motorway
(13) hopes
(14) legislation
(15) ensure
(16) implementing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. autonomous
Answer: (C) Capable of operating independently without human control

2. legislation
Answer: (E) Laws and regulations that are officially enacted

3. cautious
Answer: (K) Being careful to avoid potential problems or dangers

4. adopting
Answer: (B) The act of starting to use or follow something

5. extensively
Answer: (J) In a thorough and comprehensive manner

6. maintain
Answer: (A) To keep something in a specified state or condition

7. stretches
Answer: (O) Long, continuous areas or periods of time

8. representative
Answer: (M) A person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization

9. evolve
Answer: (D) To develop gradually, especially from a simpler to a more complex form

10. acceptance
Answer: (H) The willingness to accept or tolerate something

11. affordability
Answer: (L) The state of being able to be bought or rented without causing financial strain

12. implementing
Answer: (G) The process of putting a plan or system into operation

13. potential
Answer: (I) The inherent capacity for coming into being or achieving something

14. regime
Answer: (N) A system or ordered way of doing things

15. critics
Answer: (F) People who express doubts about the success or effectiveness of something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. According to the article, when could driverless cars be seen on some roads in the UK?
Answer: (b) By the end of 2026

2. What did the transport secretary mention about owners of driverless cars?
Answer: (c) They may be able to travel without paying attention to the road

3. What did the transport secretary witness in California?
Answer: (a) The use of driverless cars

4. How does the UK currently approach the adoption of driverless cars?
Answer: (c) Cautiously

5. What is the current level of automation in car models in the UK?
Answer: (d) Driver-assist technology

6. Which car model allows UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway?
Answer: (a) Ford’s Mustang Mach E

7. According to a Ford representative, what needs to happen before autonomous cars can drive someone from the pub?
Answer: (b) The technology, software, and regulations need to evolve further

8. What is the main concern when introducing driverless cars on UK roads?
Answer: (d) Ensuring that the technology is fully developed and safe
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The legislation is not expected to pass through parliament by the end of 2024. (Answer: False)
2. The government has not announced any plans for new legislation to introduce automated driving to UK roads. (Answer: False)
3. The transport secretary emphasized the importance of a proper safety regime and expressed his confidence in the technology. (Answer: True)
4. The transport secretary of the UK has not stated that driverless cars could be seen on some roads by the end of 2026. (Answer: False)
5. By 2026, people may not start seeing cars with full self-driving capabilities being rolled out. (Answer: False)
6. Ford’s Mustang Mach E allows UK drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain stretches of motorway, but they must still keep their eyes on the road. (Answer: True)
7. Currently, some car models in the UK come with driver-assist technology, but a human driver must still have their hands on the wheel and be looking at the road at all times. (Answer: True)
8. Critics argue that if the technology is not ready, it could lead to serious accidents. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧