This document provides information about explaining rules, with a focus on explaining driving rules. It discusses the basic sequence for explaining rules, which is to describe the situation using a conditional clause and then give the rule using vocabulary related to what is required, permitted, or forbidden. Specific driving rules that are covered include signs/symbols of the road, speed limits, right-of-way, and personal safety. Examples are given for explaining each type of rule using the proper grammar and vocabulary.

1. EXPLAINING RULES -
Driving Rules
Unit 20
ASL III

2. In our daily lives, we often find
reason to discuss rules. They can be
rules we live by such as driving
rules, societal rules, cultural rules
or school rules; or they can be the
rules we play by such as rules for
party games, card games, or
children’s games.
Explaining Rules

3. In this unit, you will learn to give clear
instruction or explanations using
classifiers and conditional sentences,
rhetorical questions, and relative clauses.
You will learn rule-related vocabulary
needed to achieve this goal. You will
develop strategies for explaining rules
while playing a game and learn to use
attention-getting behaviors to manage a
group during a game.
Explaining Rules

4. 1.Describe the situation (use a
conditional clause).
1.Give the rule (use rule vocabulary):
explain what is required, permitted,
or forbidden.
Rules We Live By/Driving
Rules Sequence

5. You will learn how to explain and
discuss the following driving rules:
□ signs and symbols of the road
□ speed limits
□ right-of-way
□ personal safety
Driving Rules

6. Signs/Symbols
1. IDENTIFY SIGN OR SYMBOL ON
THE ROAD.
1. EXPLAIN WHAT IT
MEANS.

7. Rule 1 - “A yellow flashing signal
warns you to slow down and
proceed with caution.”
Gloss: YELLOW LIGHT ECL “flashing
light” MEAN MUST REDUCE,
CAREFUL.

8. Rule 1 - A yellow flashing signal
warns you to slow down and
proceed with caution.
Video Notes:
Stefanie uses a conditional
clause (raised eyebrows) to
establish the yellow flashing
light. Then she explains
what the flashing light
means by utilizing role shift
to show how one should
behave - in this case, slow
down and check to see if the
road is clear before crossing.

9. Rule 1 - A yellow flashing signal
warns you to slow down and
proceed with caution.
Video Notes:
Stefanie begins her
explanation of what the
yellow flashing light means
with the phrase “MEAN
MUST”.
If the road sign/symbol
prohibits one from doing
something, e.g., “don’t drive
on or over a double yellow
line,” “no U-turn,” etc., use
the phrase “MEAN FORBID”
to begin the explanation.

10. Gloss: RED
LIGHT ECL “light
on” MEAN MUST
STOP.
“You must stop at a red traffic
light.”

11. Gloss: YELLOW
LCL “double
lines” MEAN
FORBID
(2h)SCL:3 “car
passing
another”.
“You cannot pass a car if double
yellow lines are on the road.”

12. SPEED LIMITS
1. Describe the situation.
2. Explain what the speed limit is.

13. Rule 2 - When towing a vehicle, the
maximum speed limit is 45 m.p.h.
Video Notes:
John describes the situation
by using a conditional clause
to pose a hypothetical
situation “suppose you were
towing.” Then he explains
the speed limit by using the
rule phrase “required to be
limited.” Fingerspelling
“MPH” means “miles per
hour.”

14. Rule 2 - When towing a vehicle, the
maximum speed limit is 45 m.p.h.
Video Notes:
John elaborates on the rule
by cautioning that going
over the limit is not allowed.
He uses the rule phrase
“going over the limit is
against the law.”
Another sign related to
limits that is used in
discussing rules about speed
is “below the limit/under a
certain number/less than a
specified amount.”

15. “Near a school, the speed limit is 25
mph while children are outside or
crossing the street.”
Gloss: SUPPOSE
DRIVE “area”
SCHOOL,
CHILDREN PLAY,
MUST DRIVE 25
#MPH LESS-
THAN.

16. “The speed limit is 15 mph when you come
within 100 feet of a railroad crossing and you
cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both
directions.”
SUPPOSE YOU DRIVE
APPROACH TRAIN
(2h)DCL:2 “railroad
tracks”, APPROACH
100 fs-FEET IX-dir
“from here to
railroad crossing”,
CAN’T SEE TRAIN 400
fs-FEET IX-dir “to left
or to right”, MUST
REDUCE 15 #MPH.

17. “On some highways, the maximum speed
limit is 70 mph. Driving over 70 mph can
result in a citation.”
HERE UTAH
FREEWAY SPEED,
LIMIT 70 fs-MPH.
OVER-LIMIT, !GET-
TICKET! CAN.

18. Personal safety
1. Describe situation
2. Explain what you should or
should not do.

19. Rule 3 - When riding a
motorcycle, always wear a
helmet.
Gloss: MOTORCYCLE RIDE, MUST HELMET
DCL “put on helmet”.

20. Rule 3 - When riding a
motorcycle, always wear a
helmet.
Video Notes:
John emphasizes that
when riding a
motorcycle, wearing
a helmet is required
in California. John
poses a hypothetical
situation by saying
“if you want to ride a
motorcycle.”

21. Rule 3 - When riding a
motorcycle, always wear a
helmet.
Video Notes:
John uses the rule
sign
“MUST/REQUIRED”
to explain that a
helmet is required.
He prefaces his
statement by
pointing out that the
rule applies in
California.

22. Gloss: YOU DRIVE,
(2h)ICL “sit”, MUST
DCL “seatbelt”.
“Drivers and passengers must wear
a safety belt while the car is
moving.”

23. Gloss: YOU DRIVE
fs-TRUCK, PEOPLE
PCL “group of
people get in
vehicle” BACK,
FORBID. MUST
RESTRAIN.
“No one may ride in the load space of a
truck unless the vehicle is equipped with,
and the person uses, a restraint system.”

24. Right of way
1. Describe the situation.
2. Pose a rhetorical question –
“who has the right-of-way?”
3. Explain who

25. Rule 4 - “Yield to the car on your right
if it has reached the intersection at the
same time as your car.”
Gloss: SUPPOSE INTERSECTION, 2
CAR, (2h)SCL:3 “two cars
approaching intersection at same
time” TIME+SAME, WHO SHOULD
FIRST RIGHT-HAND
SCL:3 “car on right move
forward” FIRST.

26. Yield to the car on your right if it
has reached the intersection at
the same time as your car.
Stefanie describes the
situation by stating a
hypothetical situation,
“suppose two cars arrive
at the intersection at the
same time,” and then
poses a rhetorical
question asking who
should be the first to
cross the intersection.
When she gives the
answer, she emphasizes
that the car on the right
should go first.

27. “Any pedestrian crossing at corners
or in the crosswalks has the right-
of-way.”
SUPPOSE CORNER
PEOPLE SCL:2 “at
corner” CAR SCL:3
“car approach” WHO
SHOULD FIRST IX-
loc SCL:2 “person
walking” FIRST.

28. “At a “T” intersection, vehicles on
the through road have the right-of-
way.”
SUPPOSE
INTERSECTION T, 2
CAR (2h)SCL:3 “two
cars approaching
intersection” WHO
SHOULD FIRST, CAR
SCL:3 “on through
road” FIRST.

29. Review
Throughout this presentation, you
have learned the following:
*Driving Rules (basic sequence):
1. Describe the situation (use a conditional
clause).
2. Give the rule (use rule vocabulary).
*Explain and discuss the following
driving rules:
□ signs and symbols of the road
□ speed limits
□ right-of-way
□ personal safety