A bike path (also called a cycling path or bike lane) is a designated pathway for bicycles, separate from motor vehicle traffic. It provides a safe and dedicated space for cyclists, reducing the risk of accidents with cars and pedestrians. Bike paths promote safe, eco-friendly transport and reduce traffic congestion!
© Wikimedia.org/Ianyou78, CC BY-SA
A toll Road is a road, bridge, or tunnel where drivers must pay a fee (toll) to use it. The toll helps cover the cost of construction, maintenance, and operation of the road.
A driving license is an official document issued by a government authority that permits a person to legally operate one or more types of motor vehicles on public roads. It confirms that the holder has met the required standards of knowledge (theory), practical driving skills, and medical fitness, and is therefore considered competent to drive safely within the law.
The frontside of a Peruvian driving license. © Wikimedia.org/GORE Callao, CC0
A license plate (also called a number plate or registration plate) is a metal or plastic plate attached to a vehicle that displays a unique identification number issued by a government authority. It serves as the vehicle’s official ID for legal and administrative purposes.
License plate of Peru. © Wikimedia.org/19petra, CC BY-SA
A bus is a large vehicle used to carry multiple passengers, usually on a fixed route. It’s part of public or private transportation, helping people get from one place to another.
A bus in Arequipa, Peru. © Wikimedia.org/Leonar25, CC BY-SA
The police are a group of trained public officials whose job is to enforce the law, keep people safe, and maintain order in society. They work to protect citizens, prevent crime, and respond to emergencies.
Direction to police station. (Flensburg, Germany) © Wikimedia.org/Soenke Rahn, CC BY-SA
An ambulance is used to transport emergency services to a place where urgent help is needed and to transport victims or patients to the hospital.
Ambulance in Lima, Peru. © Wikimedia.org/AgainErick, CC BY-SA
A fire truck (also called a fire engine) is a special emergency vehicle used by firefighters to respond to fires, rescues, and other emergencies. It's packed with firefighting equipment, tools, and often water or foam to put out fires.
A fire truck (Lima, Peru) © Wikimedia.org/Miguel_Angel_Chong, CC BY
Public transport (also called public transit or mass transit) is a system of shared transportation services that are available to the public, usually run by the government or private companies. It's designed to move lots of people at once — quickly, efficiently, and affordably.
© Wikimedia.org/Dom0803, CC BY-SA
A track (or railway track) is the path that trains, trams, or railcars run on. It’s made up of two steel rails laid on the ground, kept a fixed distance apart, and supported by sleepers (also called ties) and ballast (gravel or stone).
Motorcycle equipment includes protective gear, safety accessories, and essential tools used by motorcyclists for safety, comfort, and performance. Proper equipment helps reduce injuries and enhances the riding experience.
A spare tire is a backup tire kept in a vehicle in case one of the main tires gets flat, damaged, or punctured. It's meant to help you get back on the road temporarily so you can drive to a repair shop safely.
© Wikimedia.org/Mike-fiesta, CC BY-SA
A mirror is a reflective device that helps the driver see areas around the vehicle that are not in their direct line of sight — especially what’s happening behind and beside the car. It's essential for scanning and defensive driving and allows you to change lanes and merge safely.
Left wing mirror on a car. © Wikimedia.org/Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA
A helmet is a protective headgear designed to protect the skull and brain from injuries during falls, crashes, or impacts. Helmets are essential in many activities like cycling, motorcycling, sports, and construction work, and are often required by law. Wearing a helmet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself—whether you're biking, riding a motorcycle, or working in hazardous conditions.
Person wearing a motorcycle helmet. © Wikimedia.org/Stefania Anghelea, CC BY-SA
Rush hour is the busiest time of the day on roads and public transport when a large number of people are traveling to or from work, school, or other daily activities. Rush Hour is the time when everyone is on the road at the same time, causing traffic jams, delays, and packed public transport.
© Wikimedia.org/MDRX, CC BY-SA
A tram stop is a designated location where passengers can board or alight (get off) a tram. Similar to a bus stop, it is a place along the tram route where people wait for the tram to arrive and where the tram will stop to pick up and drop off passengers.
A train station is a facility where passengers can board or disembark from trains. It typically includes platforms, ticket counters, waiting areas, and other amenities that allow for the efficient operation of train services.
An interchange is a road structure where two or more roads or highways cross each other at different levels (grades) and are connected by ramps, loops, or bridges, so that vehicles can change directions or switch roads without stopping and without crossing traffic flows directly. When you're driving on a highway and take an exit ramp to switch to another highway or a local road without a traffic light, you are using an interchange.
The Jane M. Byrne Interchange in April 2022. (Chicago, United States) © Wikimedia.org/Sea Cow, CC BY-SA
Particulates (or particulate matter) refers to tiny solid or liquid particles that are released into the air from vehicles and road activities. These particles contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in urban and high-traffic areas.
Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air that negatively affect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. These substances can be gases, particles, or biological materials and can come from natural sources (like wildfires or dust storms) or human activities (like vehicles, industries, and burning fuels).
A pothole is a depression or hole in a road surface caused by wear and tear, weather conditions, and traffic pressure. Potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the pavement, weakens the underlying layers, and causes the surface to break apart. If a road has potholes or a bad road surface, reduce your speed.
© Wikimedia.org/State Farm, CC BY
An airbag is a vehicle safety device designed to rapidly inflate during a collision and provide a cushion between the occupant and hard surfaces like the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows—helping to reduce injuries in a crash.
Car crash test at 40km/h with different safety measures: safety belt and airbag (front), safety belt only (back, right) and no safety measures (back, left). © Wikimedia.org/Transport For NSW, CC BY-SA
Lane splitting is the practice where a motorcycle (or sometimes a scooter) rides between two lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic, usually between cars traveling in the same direction.
A motorcycle lane splitting on a motorway. (California, United States) © Wikimedia.org/Eric Schmuttenmaer, CC BY-SA
A forestry vehicle is a motor vehicle designed and equipped specifically for work in forest areas, mainly for logging, transporting timber, or maintaining woodland.
Tractor with lumber trailer. (Jyväskylä, Finland) © Wikimedia.org/Antti Leppänen, CC BY-SA
A construction vehicle is a motor vehicle designed for tasks in building, roadwork, excavation, and other construction-related activities.
An excavator doing some construction work. (Poland) © Wikimedia.org/Sunridin, CC BY
A semi-trailer truck (also called an articulated lorry, tractor-trailer, or simply semi) is a large freight vehicle consisting of two main parts: . Tractor unit – the front part with the engine, driver’s cab, and the coupling device (fifth wheel). Semi-trailer – the rear load-carrying unit without a front axle, supported at the front by the tractor unit and at the rear by its own wheels.
A Mercedes semi-trailer truck. (Regensburg, Germany) © Wikimedia.org/High Contrast, CC BY-DE
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws power from overhead wires using spring-loaded poles called trolley poles. Operates in bus lanes or mixed traffic. Drivers must be aware that trolleybus wires often run above streets, especially at intersections. Unlike trams, trolleybuses have rubber tires and run on regular roads instead of rails.
A trolleybus. (Landskrona, Sweden) © Wikimedia.org/Carl-Johan Aberger, CC0
A speedpedelec (short for speed pedal electric cycle) is a type of electric bicycle that can reach higher speeds than a regular e-bike. Looks similar to a regular bicycle but may have bigger frames, larger batteries, stronger brakes, and integrated lighting.
A Speedpedelec of German manufacturer 'Riese und Müller'. © Wikimedia.org/Sänger, CC BY-SA
A delivery vehicle is a motor vehicle used for transporting goods, packages, or food from a distribution point to customers or businesses. Subject to general road regulations, but some cities have delivery-only access times for certain streets.
A delivery vehicles from UPS. © Wikimedia.org/28704869, CC BY
Idling means keeping a vehicle’s engine running while the vehicle is stationary and not in active use for driving. Switch off the engine if you expect to be stopped for more than a short time. Modern vehicles with start-stop systems do this automatically.
A vehicle with the engine on and speed 0 km/h, it's idling. (Volkswagen Golf) © Wikimedia.org/Spacekid, CC0
A tow truck (also called a wrecker or breakdown truck) is a motor vehicle designed to move disabled, improperly parked, impounded, or damaged vehicles.
A tow truck removes an illegally parked vehicle. (Moscow, Russia) © Wikimedia.org/Stolbovsky, CC BY-SA
Four-wheel drive (4WD) is a system that powers all four wheels of a vehicle at the same time, giving it better grip on difficult surfaces.
Vehicle with four-wheel drive going through mud. © Wikimedia.org/B101uk, CC BY-SA
A road user is any person or vehicle that uses a road, street, or highway for transportation, travel, or movement. Road users include drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport passengers who interact with traffic systems.
© Wikimedia.org/Fabián Heredia Montiel, CC BY
A passenger is a person who travels in a vehicle but does not operate or control it. Passengers can be in cars, buses, trains, airplanes, boats, or any other mode of transportation. They rely on the driver, pilot, or operator to reach their destination safely.
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A bicycle rider is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bicycle racks at the train station Steinhausen, side view with details of how the bike pedal fits the slot to hold the bike. © Wikimedia.org/Datendelphin, CC0
A tow hitch (also called a trailer hitch) is a metal device attached to a vehicle (usually at the back) that allows you to connect and tow a trailer, caravan, boat, or another vehicle.
An emergency vehicle is a vehicle used by emergency services. Emergency vehicles typically have specialized emergency lighting and vehicle equipment that allow emergency services to reach calls for service in a timely manner, transport equipment and resources, or perform their tasks efficiently. Emergency vehicles are usually operated by authorized government agencies, but some may also be operated by private entities where permitted by law.
Agricultural machinery refers to the tools, machines, and vehicles used in farming and agriculture to make work faster, easier, and more efficient. These machines help with planting, growing, harvesting, and processing crops — and even caring for animals. When agricultural machinery (like tractors, harvesters, or sprayers) is used on public roads, it must follow specific traffic rules to keep everyone safe — including farmers, drivers, and pedestrians.
© Wikimedia.org/Bob Nichols, CC0
An electric bicycle, or e-bike, is a bicycle with an electric motor that assists the rider while pedaling. It still has pedals like a regular bike, but the motor helps you go faster or ride uphill with less effort.
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle powered entirely or partly by electricity, instead of gasoline or diesel. It uses a battery-powered electric motor to drive — making it quieter, cleaner, and often cheaper to run.
© Wikimedia.org/Mariordo, CC BY-SA