How to drive in the snow

www.anglophonie.fr
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How To Drive In The Snow
(YouTube 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnWOBE4Tg74
How to drive in the snow.
You’re far more likely to be in a car accident in winter than in summer. Cut the odds by taking simple
precautions and following these common sense driving tips.
You will need: preparation, unworn tires, a bag of sand, concentration and patience.
Step 1
Prepare your car for winter. Check your tires for wear and proper inflation; check the condition of your
windshield wipers and the levels of the antifreeze and wiper fluid.
In snowy regions, consider buying snow tires or tire chains (replace worn tires).
If your tire treads are worn to a depth below five thirty-seconds of an inch, they’re no good for winter use.
Step 2
Keep a bag of sand in your trunk to help with tire traction in case you get stuck. Always warm up your
car and defrost all windows. Turn on your headlights.
Step 3
Start slowly. Test your braking and steering responses, see how much traction your tires have.
Step 4
Take your time. Going too fast on slippery roads will result in skids. Don’t use cruise control and use low
gear for added traction.
Step 5
Anticipate problems. Look for black ice, blowing snow, and traffic slowdowns or stops.
Watch for bridges and overpasses, which freeze before the rest of the road. Leave extra room between
yourself and the car in front of you. Allow four car lengths between yourself and the car ahead of you for
every ten miles per hour of speed.
Step 6
Slow down before you begin to turn. As you turn, release the brakes. Once the turn is complete,
accelerate to maintain control.
Step 7
Avoid sudden braking or swerving. Break gently and evenly, and ease up if you start to skid. Don’t pump
antilock brakes. Apply steady, firm pressure on the petal.
Did you know? Snowflakes are clear. Refracted light makes snow appear white.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
far more likely
cut the odds
tips
unworn tires
sand
check
(vous avez) beaucoup plus de chance de
diminuez les chances
conseils
des pneus non usés
sable
verifiez
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7. wear
8. proper
9. windshield wipers
10. antifreeze
11. worn
12. tire treads
13. a depth below five thirty-seconds of an inch
usure
correcte
des essuie-glaces
antigel
usés
chape, bande de roulement
une profondeur en-dessous de 5/32 d'un pouce
14. trunk
15. in case you get stuck
16. warm up
17. defrost
18. headlights
19. braking and steering responses
20. slippery
21. skids
22. cruise control
23. low gear
coffre
24. black ice
25. slowdowns
26. bridges and overpasses
27. allow four car lengths
au cas où vous vous retrouvez coincé, embourbé
faites chauffer
dégivrez
phares avant
les réflexes de freinage et direction
glissantes
dérapages
régulateur de vitesse
en première ou en deuxième vitesse
verglas
ralentissements
ponts et viaducs
28. ahead of you
laissez l’équivalent de 4 voitures entre vous et…
devant vous
29. swerving
30. evenly
31. ease up
32. antilock brakes
33. snowflakes
faire une embardée, un écart
uniformément
ralentir
freinage ABS
flocons de neige
Observations: the legal requirement for the depth of tire treads in France is 1.6 mm.