Self-driving cars in San Francisco don’t get traffic tickets – EASY

In San Francisco, self-driving cars don’t get tickets if the driver’s seat is empty. 

Since June 2022, some self-driving cars can drive in San Francisco with nobody in the driver’s seat. If these cars do something wrong while not moving, like parking in the wrong place, the owner of the car gets a ticket. But the owner doesn’t get a ticket when the car does something wrong while it’s moving, like driving too fast.

In Texas and Arizona, the laws for self-driving cars are different. If a self-driving car breaks a law, the car owner gets the ticket, also when nobody is inside. 

California says self-driving cars must follow all driving laws, but they didn’t say how police should give the self-driving cars tickets. Police in other California cities didn’t answer questions about the laws.

There are more than 500 self-driving cars in San Francisco from companies like Waymo and Cruise.

Vocabulary

• Self-driving – a car that can travel or move without a human driver
• Traffic ticket- A paper you get from a police officer when you don’t follow traffic rules. The ticket usually means you have to pay a fine/punishment
• Driver’s seat – The place in a car where the person who is driving sits; the seat in a car with the steering wheel
• Park – To stop a car and leave it there/in a place
• Owner – The person who has the right to control something; the person who has something and can decide what happens to it.
• Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
• Break the law – to do something that is illegal or not allowed; Violate or fail to comply with a law or regulation; not follow a law
• Follow a law – Do what the law says; don’t do something wrong or illegal

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think the owner of a self-driving car in San Francisco gets a ticket for some mistakes, but not for others?
• Do you think it’s fair for the owner to get a ticket in Texas and Arizona even if there is nobody inside the self-driving car?
• Do you feel safe sharing the road with self-driving cars? Why or why not?
• What do you think the future holds for self-driving cars? Will they replace traditional cars one day?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

www.theguardian.com

Why are self-driving cars exempt from traffic tickets in San Francisco?

Laws in California have yet to catch up to autonomous vehicles, even though hundreds are already on the road

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

In San Francisco, _____ cars don’t get tickets if the driver’s seat is empty. 

Since June _____, some self-driving cars can drive in San Francisco with _____ in the driver’s seat. If these cars do something _____ while not moving, like parking in the wrong place, the _____ of the car gets a ticket. But the owner _____ get a ticket when the car does something wrong while it’s _____, like driving too fast.

In _____ and Arizona, the laws for self-driving cars are different. _____ a self-driving car breaks a law, the car owner gets the ticket, _____ when nobody is inside. 

California says self-driving cars _____ follow all driving laws, but they didn’t say how police should _____ the self-driving cars tickets. Police in other _____ cities didn’t answer questions about the laws.

_____ are more than 500 self-driving cars in San Francisco from companies _____ Waymo and Cruise.