pass / overtake / get past
- Thread starter sunyaer
- Start date
Quite right. The message "Do not pass" might well alarm a British driver: " What the §%$*!? Am I not supposed to pass this sign? Must I jam on my brakes here?"
I think it would read: "No overtaking please", since BrE is normally less direct than AmE.
There would be no "please" on a road sign.I think it would read: "No overtaking please", since BrE is normally less direct than AmE.
By the way, the only official New South Wales, Australia road sign related to overtaking or passing looks like this:
Description: "You must give way to any vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the bridge. You must not overtake any vehicle travelling in the same direction." That is, the description is back to front, as appropriate to the Great Down Under.
Source: Bridges - Road rules - Safety & rules - Roads - Roads and Maritime Services
Description: "You must give way to any vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the bridge. You must not overtake any vehicle travelling in the same direction." That is, the description is back to front, as appropriate to the Great Down Under.
Source: Bridges - Road rules - Safety & rules - Roads - Roads and Maritime Services
Road signs in the UK have become less language based, in common with much of Europe. (See Road signs in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia.) There are variations on the 'no overtaking' sign (given by Andy) in other places. This is the Singapore sign:
And this is the South African one:
And this is the Japanese one:
(In all these places, traffic goes on the left, and overtaking is from the right.)
And this is the South African one:
And this is the Japanese one:
(In all these places, traffic goes on the left, and overtaking is from the right.)
There is also this sign in the U.S., which reinforces the idea that you should stay to the right and not pass with the arrow shape.
Passing on a two lane road is done on the left. There is no need for this sign on a four lane road where using the opposite lanes is never allowed.
Passing on a two lane road is done on the left. There is no need for this sign on a four lane road where using the opposite lanes is never allowed.
Passing for me can involve someone/something stationary and someone/something moving past. Maybe I stood still to let someone (say a jogger) go past me (in the same or opposite direction).
Passing can also involve me going in one direction and someone else going the other way.
Passing can also involve me going in one direction and someone else going the other way.
And doesn't matter if that person was walking, running, riding a bike or driving a car, right?
Only if you were in a race and you had bragged about how it would be impossible for a woman to pass you.
Without context it would mean nothing. You can't expect any rational reply to your question if you insist on an irrational question. If we were talking about driving, she overtook me, probably in a car or van, or on a motorbike. If we were talking about sitting on a park bench or going for a stroll, I'd think it likely that she was walking and went by me. If we were talking about a brisk walk in the park, or going for a run, she probably overtook me and was probably running. Not that I'd say "some woman".
People speak English 3000 miles (4800 km) in every direction here so historically our signs in the U.S. have been written in English. Over the last few decades there has been some migration toward more symbolism.
This is an old yield sign:
And this is a new one:
This is an old yield sign:
And this is a new one:
British signs follow European signs - the emphasis is on symbols: https://www.easypacelearning.com/design/images/roadsigns.jpg
Some have additional information below
In Wales, there is also Welsh:
And then there is this sign:
Some have additional information below
In Wales, there is also Welsh:
And then there is this sign:
I would only say 1.