The car – on the road – driving a car

THE CAR – ON THE ROAD – DRIVING A CAR

Basic Vocabulary

Traffic – circulatie, trafic                   

Traffic lights – semafor, stop

Traffic jam – blocare a circulatiei (din pricina traficului intens)

Traffic policeman – agent de circulatie

Traffic accident – accident de circulatie

Traffic policewoman – agenta de circulatie

Traffic-warden (in Anglia) – persoana care controleaza parcarea masinilor si traficul rutier

Pedestrian – pieton              

Zebra / crossing – trecere de pietoni

Pavement – trotuar              

Island – refugiu pentru pietoni

Road marking – indicator rutier (pe sosea)

Kerb – bordura, margine a trotuarului

Lamp-post – stalp de felinar                        

Road sign – semn de circulatie

Road conditions – conditii de drum, starea drumului

Built-up area – zona locuita

Milestone – piatra indicatoare de mile (de-a lungul drumului)

Driving licence – permis de conducere

Kilometer-stone – piatra de kilometraj, borna de kilometraj

Rush-hour – ora de varf

Road - drum, cale, sosea                  

Motorway – autostrada

Main street – strada principala       

Highway – sosea

Side street / by-street – strada laterala                  

Band – banda de circulatie

Boulevard – bulevard                       

Asphalt – asfalt                                 

Thoroughfare [θ r∂fe∂] – artera importanta

Cobble-stone – piatra de pavaj

Avenue – drum, cale, alee (plantata cu pomi)        

Lane – 1. drum ingust, carare. 2. banda de circulatie

Cul-de-sac / blind alley – fundatura, strada infundata

(foot) path – poteca, carare

Car – masina, autoturism                 

Taxi / cab – taxi

Car-park – parcare                

Tram – tramvai

Petrol station – statie de benzina               

Tube / underground – metrou        

Bus – autobuz           

Stop – statie  

Coach – autocar        

Lorry – camion

Request stop – statie facultativa     

Fare – bilet, costul unei calatorii     

Van – furgoneta        

Conductor – conductor, taxator, vatman

Mobile shop – auto magazin

Railway Station – gara                                  

Fire Station – post de pompieri

Bus Station – autogara                     

General Post-Office – posta centrala

Market Hall – hala, piata centrala   

Town Hall – primarie

Telephone Exchange – centrala telefonica (a unei localitati)

Wheel – roata

Spare wheel – roata de rezerva

Exhaust pipe – teava de esapament           

Bonnet – capota

Mudguard – aparatoare (de noroi)

Bumper – bara de protectie

Number plate – placa cu numarul masinii

Windscreen – parbriz

Windscreen wipers – stergatoare    

Headlight – far, faza mare

Traffic indicator light / trafficator – semnalizator de directie Parking light – lumina de pozitie

Dipped light – faza scurta                

Luggage boot – portbagaj

Tyre – anvelopa, cauciuc                  

Engine – motor

Radiator – radiator               

Radiator grill – masca radiatorului

Battery – baterie, acumulator         

Horn – claxon

Clutch – ambreiaj

Steering wheel – volan                                 

Handbrake – frana de mana                        

Footbrake – frana de picior

Accelerator – accelerator                 

Gear lever – schimbator de viteza

Speedometer – vitezometru            

Dash-board – tablou de bord

Petrol tank – rezervor de benzina               

Petrol gauge – indicator de combustibil

Ignition key – cheie de contact                    

Plug – bujie   

Heater – sistem de incalzire

Carburettor – carburator                 

Ventilation – ventilatie

Suspension – suspensie

Flat tyre – cauciuc dezumflat                       

Congested parking – parcaj aglomerat

Puncture – pana de cauciuc

Breakdown – pana de motor

Faulty traffic lights– semafoare defecte

Broad / wide – lat, larg (despre drum)                    

Wet – ud                                

Narrow – ingust        

Icy – inghetat            

Straight – drept

Crowded – aglomerat           

Winding – serpuit

Amber – lumina galbena a semaforului

Paved – pavat                       

Red – rosu (la semafor)

To drive - a conduce (un autovehicul)                     

To cross – a traversa

To watch out (for) / to look out – a fi atent (la)    

To slow down – a incetini

To give way – a ceda trecerea                     

To overtake – a depasi         

To warn – a avertiza

To brake – a frana, a pune frana                 

To overturn – a se rasturna

To run into – a intra in

To have a crash – a avea / a suferi un accident

To come into a collision with – a se ciocni de        

To park – a parca                  

To injure – a rani

To endanger – a pune in pericol                  

PROIECT: Absurdul - categorie estetico-literara derivata din cultivarea in fertilele PROIECT: INCEPUTURILE LITERATURII CULTE (primii scriitori „profesionisti”)

To catch (a bus) – a prinde autobuzul

To get on (a bus) – a se urca in autobuz

To get off (a bus) – a se cobori din autobuz

To turn the ignition key – a porni masina, a face contact

To pump up the tyres – a umfla cauciucurile

To ease out the choke – a trage socul         

To release the handbrake – a da drumul la frana de mana

To depress the clutch – a apasa pe ambreiaj

To press the accelerator – a apasa pe accelerator

To select first gear – a baga in viteza intai

To sound the horn – a claxona

To rev the engine – a ambala motorul       

To run out of petrol – a i se termina benzina

To fill up the car – a umple, a alimenta masina

To check the tyre pressure – a verifica presiunea cauciucurilor

To drive under the influence of alcohol – a conduce sub influenta alcoolului

To exceed the speed limit – a depasi viteza legala

To pay a fine – a plati amenda

To be charged with motoring offence – a fi acuzat de o contraventie de la legea circulatiei

Highway Code – Regulamentul de circulatie

Bend to right – curba la dreapta     

Slippery road – drum alunecos        

Side road – intersectie cu un drum fara prioritate

Crossroads – intersectie, incrucisare de drumuri

Road works ahead – lucrari

T junction – interesectie in forma de T       

Roundabout – sens giratoriu

Two-way traffic – zona de circulatie in ambele sensuri

One-way traffic – sens unic

Pedestrian crossing ahead – atentie, trecere pentru pietoni

Uneven road – drum cu denivelari

Level crossing with gate or barrier – trecere la nivel cu bariere

Level crossing without gate or barrier – trecere la nivel fara bariere

Keep straight on – mergeti drept inainte

It’s next door to… - e alaturi de…

Turn right / left – faceti la dreapta / la stanga       

It’s opposite… - e vizavi de…

On the corner  - pe / la colt                         

Not far from – nu departe de…

At the end of – tocmai la capatul…             

How can I get to…? – cum pot sa ajung la…?

Could you tell me the way to…? – puteti sa-mi spuneti care e drumul spre…/ cum sa ajung la…?

Excuse me, does this bus go to…? – scuzati-ma, autobuzul acesta merge la…?

Excuse me, can you tell me where to get off? – scuzati-ma, puteti sa-mi spuneti unde sa cobor?

CAR TALK

You don’t need to change gears (sa schimbi vitezele). This is an automatic!

It’s really hot. Open the sunroof, please.

If you don’t mind, I’ll turn on the air conditioning (aer conditionat).

This car is very manoevrable and really easy to park. It’s got power steering (servo-directie).

I’m afraid you’ll have to climb in the back. This is a three-door.

This is an American car. It’s got cruise control (dispozitiv de control automat al vitezei). That’s why I haven’t got my foot on the accelerator/gas pedal.

Dip your headlights (a micsora lumina farurilor). You’re blinding the cars on the other side of the road!

The windows are all frosted over (inghetate). I’ll turn on the heated rear windscreen.

Don’t bother locking your side. It’s got central locking (sistem central de inchidere al usilor).

Don’t worry, it’ll fit in the boot. There’s loads of luggage space.

We can park here and have a game of cards. The front seats swivel round (scaunele frontale sunt rotative), you know. They do on people carriers.

There’s so much headroom and legroom. It’s really comfortable.

Wow! I just love the leather upholstery (tapiterie din piele) and the walnut dash (bord din lemn de nuc)

The interior trim (captuseala interioara a masinii) is so stylish!

It handles (a se manevra) like a dream!

What a smooth ride – and really low road noise (zgomot de drum scazut)!

Yes, it’s got fully independent suspension.

I wanted a really smart car, so I opted for alloy wheels (roti legate intre ele) as an optional.

What size engine has this car got?

It’s a 1,4 (one point four).

It’s got great acceleration. It does 0 (nought) to 60 in 7 seconds from a standing start (de la punctul de pornire).

This is a really powerful engine. What insurance group is it in?

Nobody can steal my car. It’s got the most sophisticated car alarm on the market. And if anyone tries to drive it away without putting the key in the ignition, it’s got an immobiliser (imobilizator) that cuts the engine off (a se opri motorul).

Even if my car gets stolen I’ll always be able to find it. I’ve had a satellite-tracking device (un sistem de urmarire prin satelit) installed.

I didn’t want to buy a foreign car because spares/spare parts (elemente de rezerva) are always more expensive.

This car should keep its value. It doesn’t depreciate quickly so I should be able to trade it in (a comercializa) for a good price in a couple of years if I keep it in good condition.

The on-the-road price (pretul de cumparare, final) including delivery and VAT – was about fifteen thousand dollars.

This cost a bit more than the standard version because it’s got metallic paint.

It’s really fuel-efficient (competitiv din punct de vedere al combustibilului). It does about 40 miles per gallon (mpg).

This must be the most environment-friendly (care protejeaza mediul) car on the market. It uses unleaded fuel (benzina fara plumb) and has got a catalytic converter (convertor catalitic).

But are all the body parts recyclable?

No, but it’s got a computerised engine management system and I can switch (a schimba, a trece pe) from petrol to natural gas even while I’m on the road.

	In 1769 Nicholas Cugnot built the first self-propelled vehicle, a steam-powered tractor, but in 1884 Gottlieb Daimler built the world’s first real passenger car. This new vehicle was at first known by a number of names, such as locomotive, road locomotive, horse-less carriage or motorised buggy; the two names which won out are those we use today – automobile and car.

FOUR-WEELED WONDERS

Until 1904, when the USA took the lead in car production, France had been the largest automobile manufacturer (producator), giving us words such as chassis (sasiu), garage and coupe. The first cars were built by craftsmen (mestesugari), using the same methods and materials as had been used to build horse-drawn carriages (trasuri trase de cai). This has given us words such as coachwork (structura exterioara a masinii), still sometimes used to describe the bodywork (corpul masinii) of a car, and dashboard (tablou de bord) (the panel in front of the driver with the gauges (elementele de masura) and indicators) (indicatoarele), which was originally the board placed at the front of a carriage to prevent dirt and mud flying up onto the driver and passengers of the coach. Early cars were steered (conduse) like a boat, with a tiller (carma) rather than a steering wheel.

Roads and Fuel

Gradually the world began to change to accommodate the car; although road building was at first very slow in the US, in Britain the Tar-Macadam Company was established in 1901, producing the smooth road surface we now know as Tarmac or asphalt (US). The first roadside fuel pumps (pompe de benzina pe marginea drumului) were introduced in the US in 1906 and so the filling station or gas station (benzinarie) was born. Motor fuel was known as gasoline or gas in the US, but in Britain the new word petrol had been coined (a inventa) in 1893. This difference in terms still survives, as do many others.

Terms of Endurance

Many terms we still use today were coined surprisingly early on. A blowout (explozie), for example, was first used in 1915 to describe a burst tyre and a year later drivers were already being told to step on the gas (a accelera) (drive faster) by speed-thirsty passengers. In 1905, British motorists formed the Automobile Association (AA) expressly to warn each other about police-operated speed traps (capcane ale politiei pentru viteza). The Road Fund Licence (road tax) was first levied (a fi perceputa) in Britain in 1910. Many famous names also appeared early on in the history of the car: for example, Chevrolet was named after a Swiss engineer, who was then sacked, and Rover cars were given their name because they would allow the driver to rove the country (a cutreiera prin tara); in 1917 this name was also given to a vehicle designed to explore the moon – the Lunar Rover.

US Domination

In 1903 the Ford motor company was founded, and the US soon became the world’s biggest car manufacturer. The famous model T appeared in 1908 – famously available in “any colour so long as it’s black”. Ford’s mass production techniques (tehnici de producere in masa) led to the democratisation of car ownership and car engineering underwent rapid development; the features (elementele, trasaturile) we take for granted today began to appear – electric windscreen wipers were introduced in 1923, and electric dipping headlights in 1924. Car radios were widely available as early as 1927. The huge growth in the number of cars during the inter-war years led to developments in the road safety (siguranta drumului) and traffic control (controlul traficului). In Britain, for example, Belisha Beacons – the orange flashing lights at pedestrian crossing (trecere pentru pietoni) – were introduced in 1935, and the same year saw the founding of the company which produced the reflective studs called cats-eyes (ochi de pisica) (designed for night driving) you can see down the middle of British roads. On the downside, speeding tickets (amenda pentru depasirea vitezei) also appeared around this time in the US, as did parking meters, first used in Oklahoma City in 1935. America, however, was eagerly adapting to the car. The first drive-in cinema (cinema cu vizionare din masina) appeared in 1933; Luxurious Grand Tourers drove the rich to their country estates, and the Hollywood stars were chauffeured around in fabulous Packards or Cadillacs. But during the Second World War production shifted to military vehicles; one vehicle with lasting popularity appeared in 1940, the US army’s General-Purpose vehicle or GP – pronounced Jeep! After the war, the post-war boom in the US meant that car production took off again. Cheap petrol, a national mood of confidence and a fascination with the power of modern science led to the archetypal fifties cars designed by Harley Earl. The most typical of these designs was the ’59 Cadillac – after this beauty, design became less exaggerated and the sixties saw the muscle car, with the emphasis now on the brute power and performance.

Downsizing

European design, however, had never copied the big American cars; in 1959 the Austin Mini revolutionised small car design, and in 1973 the big gas-guzzlers (mari consumatori de benzina) ran into trouble as the OPEC countries raised oil prices and precipitated the oil crisis. Fuel economy became a selling point (element al vanzarii), and new consumer awareness (vigilenta consumatorilor) meant that compact cars, economical on fuel, were now in demand. In the US, a 50 miles per hour speed limit was imposed to cut fuel consumption. Japanese cars made huge inroads (atac, navala) into the auto market, offering economy and reliability.

Green and Safe

Today’s customers want their cars to be safe, environment-friendly and efficient. Designers reflect the desire to keep fuel consumption low by minimising aerodynamic resistance (reducere a rezistentei aerodinamice). As for the future, car design is becoming ever more sophisticated, but the internal combustion engine (motor cu combustie interna) looks safe for the time being – although cars must become greener (ecologice).

The common or garden saloon will lose ground to SUVs (Sport-Utility Vehicles), MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) people carriers and tiny Micro cars, which can cope with (a face fata) city traffic and parking. But amid all this frenzied (frenetic) development, old and revered (venerat, adorat) makes survive and flourish – the thrill and fascination of the car will never disappear.

GETTING THERE

Asking for directions:

Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the town hall, please?

Could you tell me how to get to the Mulberry Parkway, please?

Which way to the university campus, please?

Excuse me, where’s the nearest garage?

Giving directions:

Go straight on…

Go down this street…

Take the first right/the first turning on the right…

Follow the main road, then bear right at the fork.

Turn left at the lights.

Go straight across/over the lights…

Go back the way you’ve just come.

When you get to the T-junction, turn left.

Keep in the right-hand lane and you can’t go wrong!

Go straight across/over the roundabout.

Take the third exit off the roundabout.

In the US, many towns are laid out on a grid pattern:

Go north two blocks, then hang a left.

Go east along Huron St. then turn south on Dearborn St.

At a gas station (US) or petrol station (UK):

10 gallons, please.

Fill her up!

Unleaded, please.

Five gallons of four star, please.

High octane, please.

I’d like a full tank of diesel, please.

In the US, you may need a key if you want to use the toilet:

Can I have the keys to the bathroom, please?

If you need something from the pump attendant in the US:

I need an oil change.

Could you check the tyres please, I think they’re a bit low.

Would you check the shocks?

Could you check the battery, please?

Can you give it a quick recharge?

Would you clean the windscreen, please?

If the police stop you for speeding, here are a few things you might hear:

Do you know how fast you were travelling?

Do you know the speed limit here?

Do you know that you were going 50 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone?

Where’s the fire?

Could I see your licence, please?

If you’re lucky, the officer will say:

I’ll let you off with a warning this time – but don’t let it happen again.

ROAD SYSTEM

US Road Systems

If you’re planning a serious coast-to-coast road tour, you’ll probably spend a fair amount of time on the Interstate Highway system. Some of these roads are thousands of miles long – Interstate 10, for example, goes from Jacksonville, Florida, to Santa Monica, California, the entire width of the continent! On the road signs and maps, the Interstate Highways are indicated with a capital ‘I’ (for Interstate) plus a number: for example I-10. As these numbers are extensively used, it’s much easier to plan your route by writing down the numbers than the place names: the name of your destination may not even appear on the Interstate road sign! Unlike Britain’s motorways, the exits from the Interstates are often very far apart, so take great care not to miss yours. Exits often lead off the fast lane (banda de langa axul drumului), so get into the right lane long before you need to turn off. If you do overshoot the exit (a rata iesirea), on no account think of backing up (a da inapoi). On turnpikes (bariera a orasului) you are given a distance card before entering and you pay when you reach your exit. Some expressways, bridges and tunnels also levy (a percepe) a small toll (taxa), so it'’ a good idea to keep some loose change (monede) handy. In towns and cities, you will find that streets are laid out according to the four compass bearings (punctele cardinale): East-West and North-South. When asking for directions, you are likely to be told to ‘go North on La Brea until you get to Sunset Boulevard, then go West’, for example. These instructions are easy to follow as every street corner has a sign indicating the block number (numarul cvartalului) (the house numbers at that corner) and the direction it runs in. 

The British Road System

When deciding how to get from city to city in Britain, choose the motorway (autostrada), if one exists. These are all numbered and preceded with a capital ‘M’ (for motorway: for example, the M5) and marked in blue on road maps and road signs. Exits, which are always from the slow lane, include the destination, and are fairly frequent. If there is no motorway, take an A road, or main road. Again, these are numbered (for example, the A36) and are marked in red on the map (but not on road signs). A roads often have dual carriage-ways (doua parti carosabile) at various points, to allow you to overtake slower vehicles (a depasi vehiculele cu viteza redusa). Failing that, you will have to take a minor road, or B road, again numbered (the B318, for example) and marked in brown or yellow on the map. Finding your way about in towns and cities is not always quite as simple. In London, for example, not only is there a Belsize Square (piata), Belsize Road (sosea), Belsize Avenue (bulevard), Belsize Mews (garaje), Belsize Park (parc), Belsize Grove (padurice), Belsize Street and Belsize Terrace (terasa); there are also four Belsize Roads and three Belsize Avenues in different areas. Get a copy of The A to Z of London, take a deep breath and give yourself an hour more than you normally would! If you get lost, ask a cab driver; they’re usually quite helpful.

Road Markings

In the States, lines marking the separation of two-way traffic are yellow, whereas lines separating traffic travelling in the same direction are white. Lines along the edge of the road (de-a lungul marginii drumului) to guide traffic in poor visibility are white or, in certain cases, yellow. In Britain, lines marking the separation of traffic are always white: if the line is continuous, you must not overtake under any circumstances; if the line closest to you is broken, you may overtake if it is safe to do so. In some parts of the country you will find white road studs (tinte pentru drum) in the middle of the road that reflect the light from your headlamps at night. These are commonly called cats’ eyes. Do not park on the side of the road if you see double yellows lines. You will almost certainly get a fine or find your car clamped (blocat) when you return. A single yellow line means restricted parking: look for the yellow sign that tells you when you cannot park, for example 8 am – 6 pm.

THE LAW – Speeding, parking and crashing

Punishment

If you’re given a spot fine (amenda pentru excesul de viteza) in the US you may find yourself paying about $50 plus another $5 for every mile an hour you were travelling over the limit. If you get a parking ticket (amenda pentru parcare nepermisa) in the UK, pay it quickly – leave it for too long and you’ll have to pay a lot more. If you’ve parked your car in a no-parking zone, you may only find a parking ticket, or you may return to find your car’s been towed away (remorcat). If this happens, you go to the car pound (depozit) and pay – often after a long wait – to be able to drive your car away. Alternatively, your car may have been clamped. In the US this clamp is called the Denver Boot as it was first tried out in Denver. You’ll find a note on the windscreen, which tells you where to go and pay the fine. Once again, you’’ probably have to wait for some time before the police arrive to unlock the clamp. In Britain and the US the police often sub-contract clamping and towing to private companies who get paid on a per car basis – so they’re very, very keen!

The Police

If you get stopped by the police, do be polite – and if when, travelling in the US you see flashing lights behind you, pull over and wait for the police officer to come to you. Stay cool, keep your hands on the wheel and don’t make any movements that might make the officer nervous. Don’t, for example, open the glove compartment (torpedou) to get your licence and car documents: the officer might think you’re reaching for a gun!

Breakdown

If you have engine problems on the road in the US, contact the Highway Patrol or call the Police who will help you contact the Highway Patrol. In Britain, contact the Police; if you are on the motorway, wait on the hard shoulder (banda de avarie, refugiu) until a patrol vehicle (masina de patrulare) sees you or use one of the emergency phones along the motorway.

Accidents

If you have an accident:

Inform the police

Exchange name, address and telephone number with the other driver

Exchange insurance details

Make a note of the make and registration number of the other car

Make a note of the weather conditions and road conditions

Draw a map of the situation before and after the accident, showing distances between vehicles and the distances from junctions

Note street names

Note the direction and speed of the cars involved

Note any skid-marks (semne de derapaj)

Get the name and address of any witnesses.

ROAD SAFETY – Avoiding accidents

The Do’s and Don’ts

Be aware of what’s going on around you – scan the road ahead constantly.

Keep an adequate separation distance from the vehicle in front – following too close is called tailgating.

Use your mirrors constantly, especially when you’re pulling out, overtaking or changing lanes.

Remember that the door pillars and window frames (tocurile geamurilor) of the car will block your vision of some areas, creating blind spots (locuri fara vizibilitate). Don’t get in other drivers’ blind spots.

Don’t try to beat the traffic lights (a ajunge la semafor, daca esti departe) by accelerating across them when you think they are about to change.

Don’t start your manoeuvre immediately after signalling.

Give way to buses pulling out.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians appearing from behind a stationary (care stationeaza) bus.

Follow the mirror/signal/manoeuvre routine if you need to turn or pull out: check for traffic behind you in the rearview mirror (oglinda retrovizoare), signal and then when it’s safe, carry out your manoeuvre.

Take care when approaching a junction or a bend – remember that another vehicle may emerge suddenly.

Show patience and consideration towards other drivers.

Don’t just look at what’s happening – act on what you see.

Watch your speed – always make sure you’re able to stop within the distance that you can see to be clear ahead.

Anticipate other drivers’ actions

Don’t use your horn aggressively.

Give yourself enough time to react to any potential danger.

Travel at a speed, which is suitable for the road and traffic conditions.

Safety check

Road-craft (maiestria de a conduce) isn’t just about being able to handle a car well – it also involves the ability to think about what’s going to happen, to drive according to circumstances and to drive safely and considerately. The first step is to check your vehicle before driving off. Use the acronym P-O-W-E-R to help you remember:

Petrol – make sure your tank is full enough to get you where you’re going; running out can leave you stranded (in pana, aflat in nevoie) in a dangerous situation.

Oil – allowing your oil level to drop too low can lead to breakdown and can ruin your engine. Use your dipstick and check the oil level.

Water – have you ever been standing at the roadside with the bonnet (UK) or hood (US) up, with steam billowing everywhere? Check the water before you set off!

Electrics – check the lights, wipers and washers and don’t forget the horn!

Rubber – all those rubber parts which may wear out (a se uza, a se roade) more quickly than you expect – wiper blades and tyres; check these for adequate tread depth (adancimea santurilor) and pressure.

Crash!

It happens to the best of us – someone pulled out too quickly in front of you, you’ve crashed into them and had a collision (accident in care doua sau mai multe masini s-au lovit), a fender-bender (US) (accident de masina cu avarii minore) or a smash (accident grav de circulatie). If it’s a little one it’s only a bump (un accident in care masina este lovita, dar soferul nu a patit nimic), and all that it’s done is leave a dent (gaura prin lovire) or a scratch (zgarietura). It may be worse than you think though, as the wheel may be buckled (volanul curbat, indoit) or the axle bent (osia indoita) – and who knows what’s come loose! (ce se mai poate intampla) If it’s so bad that the car cannot be repaired, then your car’s a write-off (rabla, harb).

Be Prepared!

Apart from selling fuel (unleaded, four star or diesel), many garages (UK) or gas stations (US) have a shop which may sell anything from food to fan belts (curea pentru ventilator). Here are a few items the well-equipped driver may need: a warning triangle (triunghi de avertisment) to place behind your car if you break down on the road; spare bulbs (becuri de rezerva) in case something goes wrong with your lights. If there’s an electrical fault, a new fuse (siguranta) may do the trick. If you find yourself with a flat battery (pana de baterie) and passing motorist has stopped to help, you’ll need some jump leads (cabluri groase folosite pewntru a lua curent de la alta baterie). If you still can’t start the car, a tow rope (cablu de tractare) will be necessary. If you don’t wear tights, it’s wise to carry a spare fan belt (curea de rezerva pentru ventilator), too. If you’re travelling in winter and the windscreen is iced up, you’ll need a de-icer spray. Damp (umiditate) in the engine or tight nuts and screws (suruburi si piulite blocate) can often be sorted out with one of those magic anti-damp sprays; ask for WD-40 in Britain. A can or jerrycan (canistra) is useful for carrying petrol – and don’t forget the brake fluid (lichid de frana). If you’ve got any money left, why not buy one of those gadgets (dispozitive) for your dashboard that holds your coffee cup steady? And you thought you were just going to get some gas!