Meaning & use
a RTA
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationcountableBritishformal
Road traffic accident: a crash involving vehicles on a public road.
Grammar: Countable: an RTA, two RTAs. Usually written in capitals.
Patterns
- be involved in an RTA
- report an RTA
- an RTA on the motorway
Police are appealing for witnesses after an RTA on the ring road.
The insurance form asks whether you have been involved in an RTA in the last five years.
She was late because an RTA had closed two lanes of the highway.
abbreviationcountableAmerican
Regional transit authority: a local organization that runs public transport.
Grammar: Countable: the RTA, several RTAs. Often used with 'the'.
Patterns
- the RTA
- contact the RTA
- an RTA bus
The RTA announced new bus routes starting next month.
You can buy a day pass from the RTA website.
The RTA is upgrading its train stations.
abbreviationcountablelegalBritish
Road traffic act: a law that controls how people use roads and vehicles.
Grammar: Countable: an RTA, the RTA. Usually with 'the' when referring to a specific law.
Patterns
- under the RTA
- the Road Traffic Act
The driver was charged under the RTA.
The RTA sets out penalties for dangerous driving.
Word forms
| plural | RTAs |
|---|
Common combinations
- be involved in an RTA
- He was involved in an RTA on his way to work.
- an RTA on the motorway
- An RTA on the motorway caused long delays.
- the RTA website
- Check the RTA website for timetable changes.
- under the RTA
- The offence is defined under the RTA.
Synonyms and how they differ
- road accident
- A general term; RTA is more formal and often used in official or insurance writing.
- car crash
- Informal and usually suggests a more serious collision; RTA is neutral and official.
Commonly confused: a RTA or RTA?
a RTA vs RTA
Can also stand for 'Regional Trade Agreement' in business news; context tells you which meaning is intended.
Practice
In a British insurance document, what does 'RTA' most likely mean?
Choose one answer.
In British insurance and legal contexts, RTA stands for Road Traffic Accident. The other options are possible in different fields but not in this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a RTA”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.