Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Could you paraphrase the following sentence:
In other walks of life the common-law principle of single queuing applies, but the law of the road, based on the priority rule that licenses queuing-jumping and bad temper, creates battlegrounds where we have to fight for gaps and green time.

[CP]

In other walks of life
In other communities / segments of the population

the common-law principle of single queuing applies,
the unwritten rule of keeping in a single line applies,

but the law of the road, based on the priority rule that licenses
but the rules of the road, based on the rule that allows

queuing-jumping and bad temper,
jumping into line and expressing impatience and anger,

creates battlegrounds where we have to fight for gaps and green time.
creates areas of dispute in which we have to fight for spots in the line of traffic and green time.

[I have no idea what "green time" is supposed to be. Somebody help!]
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[jasonlulu_2000]

Thank CP for your detailed explanation.