Traffic jam, traffic jam, running a red light, how to use it in English?

A familiar image on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in the past few days is traffic jams and long waits to pass red lights. What are the commonly used vocabulary and sentences in English when talking about traffic jams, turning right at red lights or running red lights?

Below are some vocabulary and common English sentences about traffic situations, traffic jams, red light warnings, fines for traffic violations... suggested by Ms. Tran Dinh Minh Chau, English teacher, TH Education and Training Company Limited (THedu).

Traffic jam on Ho Chi Minh City streets at noon on January 11

Vocabulary about traffic jam or congestion

Word/Phrase	Transcription	Meaning
Traffic jam	/ˈtræfɪk dʒæm/	Traffic jam
Congestion	/kənˈdʒes.tʃən/	Traffic jam
Rush hour	/rʌʃ ˌaʊər/	Rush hour
Gridlock	/ˈɡrɪd.lɒk/	Serious traffic jam
Bottleneck	/ˈbɒt.əl.nek/	Bottleneck
Traffic flow	/ˈtræfɪk fləʊ/	Traffic flow
Bumper-to-bumper traffic	/ˌbʌm.pər.tə ˈbʌm.pər/	Cars in a row
Standstill	/ˈstændˌstɪl/	immobility
Heavy traffic	/ˈhev.i ˈtræf.ɪk/	Heavy traffic
Tailback	/ˈteɪl.bæk/	Extended vehicle line

Traffic participants wait for the red light below the white line, Decree 168/2024/ND-CP officially takes effect from January 1, 2025, regulating the handling of traffic violations, many violations will have their fines increased many times compared to before.

Vocabulary about running a red light

Word/Phrase	Transcription	Meaning
Run a red light	/rʌn ə red laɪt/	Run a red light
Traffic violation	/ˈtræfɪk ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃn/	Traffic violations
Fine	/faɪn/	Fine
Lawbreaker	/ˈlɔːˌbreɪ.kər/	Lawbreaker
Traffic camera	/ˈtræfɪk ˈkæmərə/	Traffic camera
Reckless driving	/ˈrek.ləs ˈdraɪv.ɪŋ/	Reckless driving
Offense	/əˈfens/	Violation

Vocabulary about turning right on a red light

Word/Phrase	Transcription	Meaning
Turn right on red	/tɜːn raɪt ɒn red/	turn right on red light
Traffic rule	/ˈtræfɪk ruːl/	Traffic Law
Right turn lane	/raɪt tɜːn leɪn/	Right turn lane
Traffic signal	/ˈtræfɪk ˈsɪɡ.nəl/	Traffic signals
Pedestrian crossing	/pəˈdes.tri.ən ˈkrɒs.ɪŋ/	Crosswalk
Yield to pedestrians	/jiːld tə pəˈdes.tri.ənz/	Give way to pedestrians
No-turn sign	/nəʊ ˈtɜːn saɪn/	No turn sign

Traffic jam, slow movement in downtown Ho Chi Minh City at noon on January 11

Some common sentences about traffic - Common sentences about traffic

1. Make sure to stop at the red light.
   
2. Is it legal to turn right on a red light here?
   
3. I got stuck in a traffic jam for an hour.
   
4. The congestion was terrible during rush hour.
   
5. He was fined for running a red light.
   
6. Can I turn right at a red light here?
   
7. The road is closed due to construction.
   
8. Traffic is moving at a snail 's pace.
   
9. Please yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk.
   
10. The gridlock lasted for hours .
    
11. There's a bottleneck near the highway exit.
    
12. You must stop completely at the red light before turning right.

Ms. Tran Dinh Minh Chau, English teacher in a class

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ket-xe-tac-duong-vuot-den-do-dung-nhu-the-nao-trong-tieng-anh-18525011207383761.htm