Suggestions for Safer Driving

Before driving a strange car, reset the mirror, check the "feel" of the brakes and steering.

Never hesitate to yield the right of way, especially if the other driver is at fault. The best place for a bad driver is out of your way. When passing, wait before cutting back until you can see the passed car in your mirror.

Drive at least ten m.p.h. slower at night.

Keep the car moving at a reasonable speed, or get it off the road — completely if your windshield is dirty, so are your headlights. Be sure that they are clean each time you stop for gas.

If slowing, pump your brakes to flash your taillights.

Remember that you pass the peak of your driving efficiency between your fifth and sixth hour at the wheel. Near the end of their driving day, the professional drivers always slow down.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Make a list of the driving errors mentioned in the UNIT and say how common they are in your country.

Exercise 2. What does a car consist of? Match the word with its Russian equivalent.

1. steering wheel

2. brake

3. clutch

4. accelerator

5. gear lever

6. mirror

7. windscreen wiper

8. windscreen

9. wheel

10. tyre

11. petrol cap

12. headlight

13. rear lights

14. seat belt

15. seat

A. сцепление

B. зеркало

C. коробка передач

D. руль

E. лобовое стекло

F. задние огни

G. газ

H. фарa

I. тормоз

J. ремень безопасности

K. дворник

L. сиденье

M. бензобак

N. колесо

O. шина

Exercise 3. These words refer to traffic. Explain what they mean.

1. stop signs

2. center line

3. fingertip turn signals

4. driver

5. straight-down-the-highway course

6. maneuver

7. vehicle

8. divided highway

9. track drivers

10. "ran under" wreck

11. speed

12. solid "do not pass" line

13. lane