A ditch is a small to moderate trench created to channel water . A ditch can be used for drainage , to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation . Ditches are commonly seen around farmland , especially in areas that have required drainage, such as The Fens in eastern England and much of the Netherlands .
34-406: Roadside ditches may provide a hazard to motorists and cyclists , whose vehicles may crash into them and get damaged, flipped over, or stuck and cause major injury, especially in poor weather conditions and rural areas. In Anglo-Saxon , the word dïc already existed and was pronounced [diːk] ("deek") in northern England and [diːtʃ] "deetch" in the south. The origins of
68-845: A certificate that proves the vehicle is safe and roadworthy . Also, it needs to have a minimum of third party insurance . Drivers may be required to take lessons with an approved driving instructor (or are strongly encouraged to do so) and must pass a driving test before being granted a license. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision and health to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads. In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new drivers are initially subject to special restrictions under graduated driver licensing rules. For example, in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P" ("provisional") plates, while in New Zealand it
102-535: A locomobile , to the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire in the United States to generate publicity for their automobile. The 7.6-mile (12.2 km) journey took over two hours (not counting time to add more water); the descent was accomplished by putting the engine in low gear and much braking. Driving in traffic is more than just knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control
136-682: A community to draw down local water tables when and where necessary without exacerbating drought problems at other times. Particularly in Colorado , the term ditch is also applied to open aqueducts that traverse hillsides as part of transbasin diversion projects. Examples include the Grand Ditch over La Poudre Pass , the Berthoud Pass Ditch, and the Boreas Pass Ditch. Herbicides may be used to maintain
170-463: A ditch. Primarily this is done to deny refuge to weeds that would progress into the adjacent field, but may instead involve only broadleaf herbicides specifically to produce forage and/or hay. Ditches can provide forage or be harvested for hay . If herbicides are used, however, the resulting manure cannot necessarily be used in crop fields, because in some cases herbicides will pass through and produce crop injury. Motorist Driving
204-606: A driver's mental skills. Safety concerns in driving include poor road conditions, low visibility, texting while driving , speeding , impaired driving , sleep-deprived driving , and reckless driving . Laws regarding driving, driver licensing , and vehicle registration vary between jurisdictions. Most countries have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Some countries impose annual renewals or point systems for driver's licenses to maintain road safety. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.35 million people are killed each year in road traffic; it
238-803: A dyke is what a ditch is in the south of England, a property-boundary marker or drainage channel. Where it carries a stream, it may be called a running dike as in Rippingale Running Dike , which leads water from the catchwater drain , Car Dyke, to the South Forty Foot Drain in Lincolnshire (TF1427). The Weir Dike is a soak dike in Bourne North Fen , near Twenty and alongside the River Glen . Drainage ditches play major roles in agriculture throughout
272-452: A natural stream sinuosity and a multi-terraced channel cross section appear to be key to maintain both peak ditch drainage capacity, and minimum net pollution and nutrient transport. Flooding can be a major cause of recurring crop loss—particularly in heavy soils—and can severely disrupt urban economies as well. Subsurface drainage to ditches offers a way to remove excess water from agricultural fields, or vital urban spaces, without
306-409: A single leaf from a germinated seed. Furthermore, grassy weeds are different because they may initially appear like desirable grasses. Although broadleaf weeds can grow aggressively, they can be controlled via different methods. When there are few broadleaf weeds present, an effective approach is hand-pulling. This should be carried out regularly to check the spread of weeds. In a thick lawn that
340-586: A traumatic brain injury). Some jurisdictions implement road space rationing , where vehicles are banned from driving on certain days depending on a variety of criteria, most commonly the letters and digits in their vehicle registration plate . A few countries banned women driving in the past. In Oman , women were not allowed to drive until 1970. In Saudi Arabia , women were not issued driving licenses until 2018. Saudi women had periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions and in September 2017,
374-405: Is a high rate of injury and death caused by motor vehicle accidents that involve teenage drivers. There is evidence that the less teenagers drive, the risk of injury drops. There is a lack of evidence as to whether educational interventions to promote active transport and share information about the risks, cost, and stresses involved with driving are effective at reducing or delaying car driving in
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#1732773172332408-411: Is called restricted (R). Many U.S. states now issue graduated drivers' licenses to novice minors. While graduated driver licensing rules vary between jurisdictions, typical restrictions include newly licensed minors not being permitted to drive or operate a motorized vehicle at night or with a passenger other than family members, zero blood alcohol, and limited power-to-weight ratio of the vehicle. It
442-443: Is overgrown with broadleaf weeds, a lawn mower may be necessary. When there are abundant broadleaf weeds, a chemical herbicide (weed killer) can be useful. There are chemical herbicides meant for controlling broadleaf weeds. Perennial broadleaf weeds are often controlled with chemical herbicides, although they can sometimes return after several months. Broadleaf weeds can be controlled by shading them out. This involves covering
476-423: Is possible for a driver to be suspended or disqualified (banned) from driving, either for a short time or permanently. This is usually in response to a serious traffic offence (for example, causing death due to drink driving), repeated minor traffic offences (for example, accruing too many demerit points for speeding), or for a specific medical condition which prevents driving, pending a future assessment (for example,
510-463: Is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle , including cars , motorcycles , trucks , and buses . A driver's permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met, and drivers are required to follow the established road and traffic laws in the location they are driving. The word "driving" has etymology dating back to the 15th century. Its meaning has changed from primarily driving working animals in
544-625: Is the leading cause of death for people age 5 to 29. The origin of the term driver , as recorded from the 15th century, refers to the occupation of driving working animals , especially pack horses or draft horses . The verb to drive in origin means "to force to move, to impel by physical force". It is first recorded of electric railway drivers in 1889 and of a motor-car driver in 1896. Early alternatives were motorneer , motor-man , motor-driver or motorist . French favors " conducteur " (the English equivalent, " conductor ", being used—from
578-507: The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals standardises road signs, traffic lights and road markings to improve safety. The rules of the road, driver licensing and vehicle registration schemes vary considerably between jurisdictions, as do laws imposing criminal responsibility for negligent driving , vehicle safety inspections and compulsory insurance . Most countries also have differing laws against driving while under
612-472: The influence of alcohol or other drugs . Aggressive driving and road rage have become problems for drivers in some areas. Some countries require annual renewal of the driver's license. This may require getting through another driving test or vision screening test to get recertified. Also, some countries use a points system for the driver's license. Both techniques (annual renewal with tests, points system) may or may not improve road safety compared to when
646-497: The rules of the road . Driving over a long distance is referred to as a road trip . In many countries, knowledge of the rules of the road, both practical and theoretical, is assessed with a driving test(s), and those who pass are issued with a driving license . A driver must have physical skills to be able to control direction, acceleration, and deceleration. For motor vehicles, the detailed tasks include: Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve
680-609: The world . Improper drainage systems accelerate water contamination , excessively desiccate soils during seasonal drought , and become a financial burden to maintain. Industrial earth-moving equipment facilitates maintenance of straight drainage trenches, but entrenchment results in increasing environmental and eventually profound economic costs over time. Sustainable channel design can result in ditches that are largely self-maintaining due to natural geomorphological equilibrium. Slowed net siltation and erosion result in net reduction in sediment transport . Encouraging development of
714-414: The 15th century to automobiles in the 1800s. Driving skills have also developed since the 15th century, with physical, mental and safety skills being required to drive. This evolution of the skills required to drive have been accompanied by the introduction of driving laws which relate not only to the driver but also to the driveability of a car. The term "driver" originated in the 15th century, referring to
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#1732773172332748-422: The 1830s—not of the driver but of the person in charge of passengers and collecting fares), while German influenced areas adopted Fahrer (used of coach-drivers in the 18th century, but shortened about 1900 from the compound Kraftwagenfahrer ), and the verbs führen , lenken , steuern —all with a meaning "steer, guide, navigate"—translating to conduire . The world's first long-distance road trip by automobile
782-630: The Saudi government agreed to lift the ban, which went into effect in June 2018. Broadleaf herbicide Broadleaf weeds are dicotyledonous weeds that may grow in lawns, gardens or yards. They can be easy to spot when growing among grasses. They are tougher than grassy monocot weeds, multiply with ease, and can be very hard to eradicate. Broadleaf weeds can emerge annually , biennially , or perennially , making consistent management difficult. Perennial weeds are often very difficult to control as
816-521: The driver is not continuously or annually evaluated. Car ownership does not require a driver's license at all. As such, even with a withdrawn driver's license , former drivers are still legally allowed to possess a car and thus have access to it. In the USA, between 1993 and 1997 13.8% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes had no driver's license. In some countries (such as the UK), the car itself needs have
850-425: The erosion rates and pollution transport that results from direct surface runoff . However, excess drainage results in recurring drought induced crop yield losses and more severe urban heat island or desiccation issues. Controlled subsurface drainage from sensitive areas to vegetated drainage ditches makes possible a better balance between water drainage and water retention needs. The initial investment allows
884-540: The following skills: Distractions can compromise a driver's mental skills, as can any altered state of consciousness . One study on the subject of mobile phones and driving safety concluded that, after controlling for driving difficulty and time on task, drivers talking on a phone exhibited greater impairment than drivers who were suffering from alcohol intoxication. In the US "During daylight hours, approximately 481,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving according to
918-402: The occupation of driving working animals such as pack or draft horses . It later applied to electric railway drivers in 1889 and motor-car drivers in 1896. The world's first long-distance road trip by automobile was in 1888, when Bertha Benz drove a Benz Patent-Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim , Germany. Driving requires both physical and mental skills, as well as an understanding of
952-595: The publication on the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Another survey indicated that music could adversely affect a driver's concentration." Seizure disorders and Alzheimer's disease are among the leading medical causes of mental impairment among drivers in the United States and Europe. Whether or not physicians should be allowed, or even required, to report such conditions to state authorities, remains highly controversial. Safety issues in driving include: There
986-500: The rules of the road. In many countries, drivers must pass practical and theoretical driving tests to obtain a driving license. Physical skills required for driving include proper hand placement, gear shifting, pedal operation, steering , braking , and operation of ancillary devices. Mental skills involve hazard awareness, decision-making, evasive maneuvering, and understanding vehicle dynamics . Distractions , altered states of consciousness , and certain medical conditions can impair
1020-517: The teenage years. Driveability of a vehicle means the smooth delivery of power, as demanded by the driver. Typical causes of driveability degradation are rough idling , misfiring , surging , hesitation , or insufficient power. Drivers are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are driving. Some jurisdictions submit to some or all of the requirements of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949. Additionally,
1054-422: The vehicle; it requires knowing how to apply the rules of the road (which ensure safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling and can drive responsibly. Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding , such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey
Ditch - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-916: The weeds regenerate faster than they can be eradicated. Broadleaf weeds, as their name suggests, often have wide leaves and grow from a stem. Most broadleaf weeds develop clusters of blossoms or single flowers as they mature that can be considered undesirable. The roots of most broadleaf weeds are fibrous in nature. The roots can be thin, a large taproot , or a combination. Many broadleaf weeds spread through their seeds and rhizomes , although some only spread through seeds. Popular broadleaf weeds are chickweed , clover , dandelion , wild geranium , ivy , milkweed , plantain (broadleaf), and thistle . The differences in broadleaf weeds' structure and growth habits make them easy to distinguish from narrow-leaved weedy grasses. Most broadleaf weeds have leaves with net-like veins and nodes that contain one or more leaves, and they may have showy flowers, while grassy weeds appear as
1122-466: The word lie in digging a trench and forming the upcast soil into a bank alongside it. This practice has meant that the name dïc was given to either the excavation or the bank, and evolved to both the words "dike"/"dyke" and "ditch". Thus Offa's Dyke is a combined structure and Car Dyke is a trench, though it once had raised banks as well. In the English Midlands and East Anglia ,
1156-712: Was in August 1888, when Bertha Benz , wife of Benz Patent-Motorwagen inventor Karl Benz , drove 66 mi (106 km) from Mannheim to Pforzheim , Germany , and returned, in the third experimental Benz motor car, which had a maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h), with her two teenage sons Richard and Eugen but without the consent and knowledge of her husband. She had said she wanted to visit her mother, but also intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention, which had only been taken on short test drives before. In 1899, F. O. Stanley and his wife Flora drove their Stanley Steamer automobile, sometimes called
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