Glossary of American and British Driving Terminology

Please note that American terminology can vary from one state to another and that this glossary is undoubtedly incomplete. Please Contact Us if you can help us add to it.

U.S.A.	U.K.
An "All-Way Stop" (sometimes a.k.a. a 4-Way Stop)	A crossroads or multiple junction at which traffic from all directions must stop at a 'Stop' sign or a stop line.
Backing Up	Reversing (Americans seemingly never say "reversing")
Bathrooms (at a "Rest Area") -- a.k.a. "Restrooms"	Toilets
Bicyclist	Cyclist
Cargo Van (see also "Van" and "Mini-Van")	A van for the carriage of goods
Carpool Lane (a.k.a. a 'Diamond' or 'H.O.V.' Lane)	Lanes restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers
Citation	Being reported by the police for a traffic offence
Commuter Lane	A central lane which is used for traffic in different directions at different times of day, sometimes between movable concrete barriers (hence the 'zipper' reference, below)
Coupe (pronounced "koop")	Coupé (pronounced 'koop-ay')
Crosswalk	Pedestrian Crossing
Cruiser	Police Patrol Car
Curve	Bend
Diamond Lane (a.k.a. Carpool or H.O.V. Lane)	Lanes restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers
DMV is "Dept. of Motor Vehicles" (also see RMV)	(Issue drivers' licences and vehicle registrations)
DUI	Driving Under the Influence of alcohol
DWAI	Driving While Ability Impaired (through alcohol)
DWI	Driving While Intoxicated
Directionals	Indicators
Divided Highway	Dual Carriageway
Defogger	Heated Rear Window
(LCV) Double Trailer	An articulated wagon ("tractor-trailer") with two trailers, in tandem. (Only an LCV if over 80,000 pounds)
Emergency Brake	A misleading name for the Handbrake
Emergency Signals	Hazard Lights
Expressway	Motorway
Flashers (also "Four-Way Flashers" and "Warning Lights)	Hazard Lights
Four-Way	Crossroads
Four-Way Stop (a.k.a. an All Way Stop)	A crossroads at which traffic from all directions must stop at a 'Stop' sign or a stop line.
Freeway	Dual Carriageway; usually a Motorway equivalent
Full (or "Full Service") at a "Gas Station"	Attendants will put your petrol in. Asking for "ten regular" will get you ten dollars worth, not ten gallons
Gas	Petrol (See "Regular")
Gas Pedal (or just "the gas")	Accelerator
Gas Station	Petrol Station
A "Grade" (often just a "hill")	Hill
H.O.V. (High-Occupancy Vehicle) Lane (q.v. Carpool)	Lanes restricted to vehicles with multiple passengers
Highway	This generally means a dual carriageway of motorway standards but it can also be used for any road with two or more lanes
Hood	Bonnet
A number, preceded by the letter "I," such as "I-90"	This is an Interstate Highway (q.v.)
Intersection	Any road junction, on major and minor roads
"Interstate," or "Interstate Highway"	Motorway
"Jct 78" (any number)	Sign on the approach to a junction with the relevant road
LCV ("longer combination vehicle")	An articulated wagon ("tractor-trailer") with either two or three trailers, in tandem. ("Double Trailers" are only LCVs if over 80,000 pounds)
Lights	Traffic Lights
Median	Central Reserve
Mini Van (see also "Van" and "Cargo Van")	A "people carrier" with seats for six or more.
One Way	A One-Way Street or, in some states, the correct side of a Divided Highway (q.v.)
Parkway	Contrary to what it may sound like, it is a road.
Pavement	The road surface. Do not confuse this with Sidewalk!
Pavement Markings	Road Markings (But beware! On the approach to 'Stop' junctions, etc., these are usually absent. Be vigilant.)
"Pike" (as in, for example, the "Mass. Pike")	See 'Turnpike'
R.M.V. is "Registry of Motor Vehicles" (see DMV)	(Issue drivers' licences and vehicle registrations)
Railroad Crossing	A Railway 'Level Crossing'
Ramp	The 'access' or 'exit' slip-road at an 'Intersection'
Regular (in respect of coffee!)	With milk and sugar! (Massachusetts)
Regular (in respect of petrol, or "gas")	Unleaded
Rest Area	Usually a proper 'Service Area' (but even on 'Interstates', some are only lay-bys with portable toilets -- no petrol and no food)
Restrooms (at a "Rest Area") -- a.k.a. "Bathrooms"	Toilets
Rotary	Roundabout (rare or non-existent in many states)
S.U.V. ("Sports Utility Vehicle")	4-by-4's, often similar to Range Rovers, etc.
Sedan	Saloon Car
"Self" (at a "Gas Station")	Self-Service Petrol
A "Semi" (pronounced 'semm-eye') or an "18-wheeler"	Articulated Wagon (a.k.a. as an 'Artic')
Semi-trailer (see just "Semi", above)	The trailer from an articulated wagon
Shoulder	The hard shoulder, on the outer edge of the road
Sidewalk	Pavement (but see "Pavement", above!)
Signals	Traffic Lights
Station Wagon (or just "Wagon")	Estate Car
Stick Shift	Either a manual-transmission car or the actual gear lever
Ticket (a.k.a. a Citation)	Being reported for a traffic offence
Generally an airport taxiway or even the runway	Tarmac -- Americans may look at you very strangely if you talk about driving on it!
Tractor-trailer	Articulated Wagon (a.k.a. as an 'Artic')
Traffic Circle	Roundabout (rare or non-existent in many states)
Traffic Signals	Traffic Lights
(LCV) Triple Trailer	An articulated wagon ("tractor-trailer") with three trailers, in tandem.
Trunk	Boot
Turnpike (often known as the "Pike")	A toll-road, often of motorway standards
U-Turn	A 180º turn (usually in the middle of an intersection!) but be careful, some U.S. states have signs only when this is illegal and in others it is only legal if a sign says you may do it.
Undivided Highway	Single Carriageway
Van (see also "Mini-Van" and "Cargo Van")	A "people carrier" with seats for six or more.
Wagon (as in "Station Wagon)	Estate Car
Warning Lights (also "Four-Way Flashers" and "Flashers")	Hazard Warning Lights
Western Double	Nickname for an articulated wagon ("tractor-trailer") with 2 trailers, in tandem (weight under 80,000 pounds)
Yield	Give Way
Zipper Lane	See 'Commuter Lane'