Directed Writing: Speech/Talk

It is Road Safety Week in your school and you have been asked to give a speech. Write out the speech that you will give.

Include the following points:

·      reckless drivers and motorists

·      speeding

·      tired drivers, especially drivers of lorries

·      poor road conditions

·      poorly maintained vehicles

·      everyone is responsible for road safety

You should use all the points given above. When writing the speech, you should remember:

·      to use the proper address and closing remarks

·      that your listeners are students and teachers

·      to write in paragraphs

Comment:

The instructions indicate that this talk would be given in your school, perhaps at assembly, so you would address the principal, teachers and other pupils. You are instructed to mention the topic of your talk. You can also mention your purpose for giving the talk, which is part of the programme for Road Safety Week. Make sure you include all the points given. You can arrange the points in any logical sequence, expanding on them with examples or explanations of your own. For your ending, you should tell your listeners how you would like them to respond, adding a suitable saying if you know one. And thank them for listening to you.

Sample Answer:

A very good morning to our Principal, teachers and my fellow students,

I am very glad indeed to be standing here in front of you this morning. You see, as I was crossing the road in front of our school, I was nearly hit by a motorcyclist, who had suddenly turned out of the school gate and was speeding in the wrong direction, straight for me! Fortunately, I was able to jump aside in time. It’s such a strange timing, since I was planning to give a talk entitled “Keeping Our Roads Safe” in conjunction with Road Safety Week.

Anyhow, this is my first point. Roads are often made dangerous by reckless motorists or motorcyclists who speed around, not looking out for other road users. Sometimes motorcyclists even conduct races on the road! Such irresponsible road hogs should be collared by the authorities. There should be stricter enforcement of the traffic rules and bigger tines should be imposed on reckless drivers. Some drivers are rather young, and perhaps too immature to realise the dangers that they are inflicting on others. I believe that the minimum age for new drivers should be increased to 20.

A common situation when dangerous driving occurs is when the drivers are too tired, for example, when a lorry driver has to drive long distances across the country. Such practices should be actively discouraged. Awareness campaigns should be carried out on the dangers of driving non-stop for long periods. Furthermore, the authorities should also suspend the licenses of dangerous drivers, especially those driving heavy vehicles.

Finally, road safety is also affected by poor road conditions and poorly maintained vehicles. The authorities should carry out regular checks on vehicles to ensure that only road-worthy vehicles are allowed on the roads. It is also the duty of the government to keep the roads in good condition.

If the government and the citizens realise the importance of road safety and take active steps to remedy the situation, there will be less road accidents. So, whether you are a motorist, a motorcyclist or a pedestrian, let’s try to do our part to make the roads safer. Remember: The life you save could be your own.

       

        Thank you.