"My experience of culture shock"

Different from ordinary issue, I'd like to introduce my culture shock I experienced during my stay in U.S. First of all, I'd like to start with traffic related issue.

1. The road network covers almost all the areas in the U.S. However, most of them are free. Although toll roads also exists in part, most of the case, a toll is as cheap as US$1-5. EZ Tag (name of the system vary from area to area), which corresponds to ETC of Japan, can also be acquired for free even though you need to make deposit of few dollars, and a toll is pulled down automatically from your credit card account.

2. For the purpose of traffic congestion relief, joint use of a privately owned car is encouraged. Therefore, priority lanes called High Occupancy Vehicle Lane are provided in big cities. Moreover, since land is large enough, the commutation form "Park & Ride" which united the bus with the privately owned car is also common.

3. Although there are some differences by the state, acquisition of driving license is easy. It is not necessary to take lessons at driving school like in Japan and you just need to take written examination and an easy road test with private car or a rent a car. If you are lucky, a license is acquirable in one day. What surprised me is that most of the examinee comes to take test by driving private cars.

4. Basically, car insurance premium rate goes up if you violate traffic regulations. However, if you accept guilt in a simple trial and take a school, insurance premium rate will remain unchanged. The school is left to private management, and if traffic regulations are violated, the flier of various school companies with announcements, such as "being a short course easily at the movie of comics" etc. "with a lunch", will come in unexpectedly.

5. The premium of automobile insurance is influenced by not only an individual driving history but also the result of the accidents of the area where you live. I was surprised to see the increased rate on the insurance bill even though I did not independently cause neither accident nor traffic violation.

6. Although a car is the only move means, alcohol can be drunk at most restaurants. However, if you drive a car under the influence of alcohol and caught by the police, you will be hung handcuffs severely and will spend a miserable night in a house of detention. Bail Bond, which receives payment of bail, is also privatized. If you go near the court, you will find advertisement signboards, such as "Easy Bond", will be located in a line.

7. When you are caught in drunken driving and are convicted, it will be engaged in Public Service, such as street cleaning, during a fixed period. However, since it is an automotive society, the license could not be taken up and you are allowed to drive specific route at specific time for the purpose of the commutation only. Moreover, if you could appoint an able lawyer, it is also possible to avoid Above Penalty by plea-bargaining.

Key Word

correspond to ...		flier
acquire		unexpectedly
congestion		influence
privately owned car		handcuff
encourage		detention
acquisition		bail
written examination		privatize
examinee		convict
violate		plea-bargaining