Collocations Driving

Having a car

have/​own/(British English) run a car

ride a motorcycle/​motorbike

drive/​prefer/​use an automatic/​a manual/(North American English, informal) a stick shift

have/​get your car serviced/​fixed/​repaired

buy/​sell a used car/(especially British English) a second-hand car

take/​pass/​fail a (British English) driving test/(both North American English) driver’s test/​road test

get/​obtain/​have/​lose/​carry a/​your (British English) driving licence/(North American English) driver’s license

Driving

put on/​fasten/(North American English) buckle/​wear/​undo your seat belt/​safety belt

put/​turn/​leave the key in the ignition

start the car/​engine

(British English) change/(North American English) shift/​put something into gear

press/​put your foot on the brake pedal/​clutch/​accelerator

release the clutch/(especially British English) the handbrake/(both North American English) the emergency brake/​the parking brake

drive/​park/​reverse the car

(British English) indicate left/​right

(especially North American English) signal that you are turning left/​right

take/​miss (British English) the turning/(especially North American English) the turn

apply/​hit/​slam on the brake(s)

beep/​honk/(especially British English) toot/(British English) sound your horn

Problems and accidents

a car skids/​crashes (into something)/collides (with something)

swerve to avoid an oncoming car/​a pedestrian

crash/​lose control of the car

have/​be in/​be killed in/​survive a car crash/​a car accident/(North American English) a car wreck/​a hit-and-run

be run over/​knocked down by a car/​bus/​truck

dent/​hit (British English) the bonnet/(North American English) the hood

break/​crack/​shatter (British English) the windscreen/(North American English) the windshield

blow/(especially British English) burst/​puncture (British English) a tyre/(North American English) a tire

get/​have (British English) a flat tyre/​a flat tire/​a puncture

inflate/​change/​fit/​replace/​check a tyre/​tire

Traffic and driving regulations

be caught in/​get stuck in/​sit in a traffic jam

cause congestion/​tailbacks/​traffic jams/​gridlock

experience/​face lengthy delays

beat/​avoid the traffic/​the rush hour

break/​observe/(North American English) drive the speed limit

be caught on (British English) a speed camera

stop somebody for/​pull somebody over for/(British English, informal) be done for speeding

(both informal) run/(British English) jump a red light/​the lights

be arrested for/​charged with (British English) drink-driving/(both US English) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)

be banned/(British English) disqualified from driving