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Participants in my seminars report feeling panicky, tearful and overwhelmed: some can't move or speak. One woman gripped her husband's arm so hard she drew blood.

The truth is that their fear is completely out of proportion to the corresponding danger. Flying on a scheduled airline is safe. During 1988 and 1989 more than 45 million passengers were flown an average distance of 1,600 miles by British Airways without one fatality.

Of course, statistics confirming the safety of commercial air travel do little to reassure the white-knuckled passenger. As Einstein said, "Imagination is more powerful than knowledge”. If you are afraid of flying, the fear has become a subconscious habit that imprisons or at least restricts you. It has grown insidiously, finally becoming an insurmountable threat.

Fortunately, fear of flying is among the most treatable of phobias. First, however, you must understand that the problem is not external. Flying is the safest mode of travel, so it is not the plane, the crew or the air-traffic controllers that cause your fear. The problem is caused by the emotions you have created.

Next you must realize that while turning away from the source of distress is understandable, it only makes the fear seem more overpowering. The only way to overcome a phobia is to stop avoiding it.

Through years of counseling, I have developed the following techniques that will show you how to confront your tear and dispel it:

•Visit airports. Somewhere on the perimeter of all airports is a vantage point from which you can watch the planes take off and land. Observe the different makes and sizes. Find out what type you will be travelling on and learn to re cognize it.

•Arrive at the airport early. Allow a minimum of two hours for parking, walking, checking in and security screening. Rushing will only add to your anxiety.

•Consider travelling with a companion who understands your problem.

•Expect to be nervous, excited and uneasy. Take deep breaths, to give yourself a sense of control. Movement is another antidote, so stand and stretch, move about.

•Select a seat near the front of the plane where it is quieter and smoother. Force yourself to act rather than react; speak to a stranger.

•Even when seated and belled there is still a lot you can do to help ease your nervousness.

•Yawn. Smile at someone. Follow the demonstrations of emergency proce-

dures.

•Breathe deeply as the plane lines up for take-off. Lean back in you seat. Keep your eyes open during take-off. Do not grip the arms of the seat; this will only make you more tense. Wiggle your toes faster and faster with the acceleration to help yourself relax. (Take-off only takes 35 to 40 seconds.)

•After lift-off, listen for the sound of the landing gear being retracted and,

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if smoking is allowed, the ring of the bell signaling that the NO SMOKING sign has been turned off. Then accept the strange sounds and movements of the plane as normal. Once you have learnt to relax, your constant quest for ominous sounds will fade.

•Don't let your fears exaggerate turbulence. Flying through turbulent air can be compared to riding in a speedboat on a choppy lake or driving your car over a pot-holed road. As long as your seat-belt is fastened, turbulence will not hurt you—or the aircraft, which is built as strongly as a battleship. If you find yourself shaking, it is an involuntary response to your nervousness. Speed up your shaking. That will put you back in control. Then, being in control, you can gradually stop it.

•Fly sober. A tot of fearful flyers drink too much before embarking. Unfortunately, drinking is usually a handicap rather than a help. This conclusion has come from the people who finally started flying sober because alcohol wasn't helping. One man, a very moderate drinker, drank too much on a flight and blacked out. He woke up the next morning unaware of what city or hotel he was in. Drugs taken to avoid feeling the experience of flight only serve to intensify the problem.

When you overcome your fear, take pleasure in the freedom that flying allows you. Flying is a way of life in the twenty-first century. Let it be your way of life as you leave your old fears and limitations behind.

2.Answer the questions:

1.Is fear of flying a common problem with travellers?

2.What are the most common “symptoms” of this phobia?

3.Is fear of flying well-founded?

4.Can statistics help to reassure fearful passengers? Why (not)?

5.Is fear of flying difficult to overcome?

6.What techniques can help passengers confront their fear and dispel it?

3. Find the opposites. Make sentences with the words.

tense	easiness
nervousness	sleepiness
nightmare	quietness
fearful	brave
sleeplessness	quietly
uneasiness	pleasure
anxiety	incurable
panicky	calmness
treatable	to take off
to land	calm

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4.Let's discuss the text.

1.Have you ever experienced fear of flying? If so, what is your way of overcoming this phobia? Is it similar to any of the “techniques” described in the text?

2.Which of the techniques suggested by the authors do you find particularly sensible? Why?

3.Are there any techniques that you find impracticable? If so, which ones and why?

4.Which of the techniques do you think you might try yourself when you take your next flight? Why?

II.Road accidents

1. Read the text and change the form of the underlined words when it is necessary.

Common types of collision

Crashes are categorizing by what is struck and the direction of impact, or impacts. These are some common crash types, based on the total number that occur in the U.S.A. in 2005, the percentage of total crashes, and the percentage of fatal crashes:

•Rear impacts (1,824,000 crashes, 29.6% of all US crashes, 5.4 % of US fatal crashes)

•Angle or side impacts (1,779,000 crashes, 28.9% of all US crashes, 20.7% of US fatal crashes)

•Run-off-road collisions (992,000 crashes, 16.1% of US crashes, 31.7% of US fatal crashes)

•Collisions with animals (275,000 crashes, 4.5% of US crashes, 0.4% of fatal crashes)

•Rollovers (141,000 crashes, 2.3% of all US crashes, 10.9% of US fatal crashes)

•Head-on collision (123,000 crashes, only 2.0% of all US crashes, but 10.1% of US fatal crashes)

•Collisions with pedestrian and bicyclists (114,000 crashes, only 1.8% of US crashes, but 13.5% of US fatal crashes)

•Back-up collisions kill 221 people in the US in 2007, and injure about 14,400. This is one of the more common types of non-traffic auto collision in which road workers and children 15 and youngest are killed.

Rollover, head-on, pedestrian, and bicyclist crashes combine are only 6.1% of all crashes, but cause 34.5% of traffic-related fatalities.

Sometimes the vehicles in the collision can suffered more than one type of impact, such as during a shunt or high-speed spin. This is calling a "second harm-

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ful event," such as when a vehicle is redirecting by the first crash into another vehicle or fix object.

2.What is the most / the least dangerous kind of car accidents? Use the previous text to prove your point of view.

3.Look through the text, find the derivative from “mature” and give the Russian equivalent.

Beginning drivers’ crashes differ

Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk per mile traveled, compared with drivers in other age groups. The problem is worst among 16 year-olds, whose driving experience is the most limited and whose immaturity often results in risktaking.

Characteristics of the fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers include the follow-

ing:

Driver error. Compared with older drivers’ fatal crashes, those of 16 yearolds more often involve driver error.

Speeding. Sixteen-year-old drivers have a high rate of fatal crashes in which excessive speed is a factor.

Single-vehicle crashes. Many fatal crashes of 16 year-olds involve only the teen’s vehicle. Typically these are high-speed crashes in which the driver lost control.

Passengers. Sixteen year-olds’ fatal crashes are more likely to occur when passengers are riding in the vehicle. This risk increases with the addition of every passenger.

Alcohol. Although this is a problem among drivers of all ages, it’s actually less of a problem for 16 year-olds. Typically about 14 percent of fatally injured 16-year-old drivers have blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or more, but alcohol becomes more of a problem in later teen years.

Night driving. This is a high-risk activity for beginners. Per mile driven, the fatal crash rate of 16 year-olds is about twice as high at night compared with during the day.

Low belt use. Most teens who are killed in crashes aren’t using their safety belts.

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4. Look at the table. What is the synonym for “passengers”?

Percentage of fatal crashes by characteristic, 2007

			Driver Age
		16	17-19	20-49
	Driver error	77	70	57
	Speeding	35	34	24
	Single vehicle	49	48	42
	3+ occupants	29	24	17
	Drivers killed	14	26	47
	with 0.08+ BAC

5.Compare the crash risk of the age groups denoted in the previous table. The following common expressions may be useful for you:

Speaking of…; let me say a few words about…; something else I’d like to say is…; generally speaking…; on one hand…; on the other hand…; it goes without saying…; there is no doubt that…

6.Look through the road safety tips:

1.Don’t use your mobile phone whilst driving.

2.Belt up in the back.

3.Don’t drink and drive.

4.Always adhere to speed limits.

5.Steer clear of* erratic drivers. Let a tailgater pass you.

6.Keep your eyes on the road. Talking on a cell phone or reading a map can distract you and lead to an accident. Keep in mind that a distracted driver might also be near you. Drive cautiously.

7.Be alert near parked cars. Someone could open a car door or pull out in front of you.

8.Don’t drive sleep-deprived. Sleep is not a matter of willpower, but a biological need. If you become drowsy, pull off the road and get some rest.

9.When passing another car, get past the driver’s blind spot as quickly and safely as possible.

10.Keep your distances.

Steer clear of*… = Keep away from…

7. Make a list of road safety tips for walking.

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8. Read and translate the text. Compare the information with the Russian Automobile Accident Statistics.

United States Automobile Accident Statistics

Motor vehicle accidents claim over 42,000 lives nationwide each year. These accidents cost Americans $230 Billion in loss of property, medical bills and productivity loss.

Alcohol and Car Accidents. About 30 percent of all car accidents are alcohol related. It is estimated that someone is killed every thirty-one minutes and an automobile accident injury occurs every two minutes.

According to research, in 2005, over 14,000 traffic fatalities occurred in vehicles in which at least one driver or non-occupant had a BAC of 0.08 or greater.

Prevent Injuries by Wearing Seat Belts. 50% of the people killed in automobile accidents die simply because they aren't wearing a seat belt. It's proven seat belts save lives! Seat belts have been credited with preventing 12,000 fatalities and over 325,000 injuries annually. 60% of children die in car accident crashes because they aren't wearing their seat belts.

Automobile Crashworthiness. Automobile Crashworthiness involves reducing the severity of injury or preventing death as a result of an accident through the use of safety mechanisms and measures. Crashworthiness may be determined by analyzing the outcome of a crash or by using technology such as computerized models and experiments. Criteria used to determine crashworthiness of a vehicle include patterns of deformity in the automobile structure, vehicle acceleration occurring during a crash and the probability of an injury determined by computer models.

The overall crashworthy rating of a vehicle is its ability to prevent injuries from a collision. Crashworthiness measures include airbags, seatbelts, roll bars, side impact airbags and crumple zones.

9. Discuss the text using the questions:

1.How many lives do motor vehicle accidents claim in the USA each year? What about Russia?

2.How many of all car accidents are alcohol related in the USA? In Russia?

3.Do seat belts save lives? Do Russian drivers have to wear a seat belt?

4.What do criteria used to determine crashworthiness of a vehicle include?

5.What do crashworthiness measures include?

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10. Read and translate the text.

Top Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents don't happen out of the blue, as there is always a cause for affect. Even with today's safety technology, millions of people die each year in car accidents. Some of the most common causes for car accidents are listed below:

Speeding - Despite the law and increased awareness, speeding is still the top cause of car accidents. As long as humans want to get to places fast, and car manufacturers make automobiles that can break speed limits, then speed will continue to be a killer. The faster the car, then the more time it takes to stop and the more deadly the impact. If a car crashes at 60mph, the force released is more than double what it would be at 40mph.

Weather - Something we have little control over is the weather. Conditions such as fog, rain and snow increase the chances of an accident, obscuring driver's sight and making it harder to stop in time. When driving in bad weather you should take all the recommended and necessary precautions to remain safe.

Drunk Driving - Being drunk whilst driving puts yourself and everybody around you in danger. It impairs your judgment, so you are likely to take more risks and you'll probably become more aggressive towards other motorists. The main problem with drunk driving is your reflexes. It can take the brain more than twice the amount of time to send messages to your limbs so simple things like turning corners become problematic.

Sleepiness - Being tired at the wheel is selfish and stupid. Drivers, who crash their vehicles when falling asleep at the wheel, account for more than 100,000 US car accidents per year. If you have a long journey to make then share driving duties with another person and take regular breaks. If it becomes too much hit a motel for a nap, or pull over at a truck stop.

Distractions - Driving should take your full attention, looking away for a split second can cause an accident. This includes things like changing the stereo, using a mobile phone, interacting with passengers and even slowing down to look at scenery or other accidents.

Abiding by the law and using your common sense can prevent all of these causes of car accidents. And remember, just because you are a responsible driver doesn't mean other people are so stay alert. To ensure road safety, drivers must be fully aware of and abide by the rules and regulations as set out in the Highway Traffic Act (Canada) and the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations (U.S.).

The ultimate responsibility of safe driving under any conditions or circumstances falls on the driver; no policy or procedural statements can eliminate that responsibility.

Each driver must be prepared to employ defensive driving techniques every time they drive to ensure safety when other motorists do something unexpected, weather or road conditions suddenly deteriorate, mechanical malfunctions occur

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or if anything else happens that may require evasive actions for the safe operation of the vehicle.

Sometimes it may be best to just stay off the roads altogether if there is a likelihood of dangerous conditions.

11. Find English equivalents:

Обычные причины аварий на дорогах, осознание, добраться до места быстро, превышать скорость, ужасные последствия, удвоенный, туман, затрудняет видимость, предосторожности, остаться невредимым, ведёт к опасности, замедляет реакцию, количество времени, эгоистично, поездка, вести машину, вздремнуть, полное внимание, здравый смысл, предупредить аварию, ответственный водитель, будьте бдительны, транспортное средство.

12.Translate the sentences into English.

1.У каждой аварии всегда есть причины. Самые частые причины автомобильных катастроф – это превышение скорости, плохие погодные условия, пьянство за рулём, усталость и отвлекающие моменты.

2.пока люди хотят побыстрее добраться до места, и пока производители машин делают автомобили, которые могут превышать скоростной режим, скорость на дорогах будет оставаться убийцей.

3.Погодные условия как туман, дождь и снег повышают вероятность наступления аварии, ухудшая видимость и затрудняя возможность остановиться.

4.Если вы едете в плохих погодных условиях, пользуйтесь всеми рекомендациями и примите все предосторожности, чтобы остаться невредимыми.

5.Пьянство за рулём затрудняет ваше восприятие, поэтому вы больше рискуете, а также вы можете стать более агрессивными по отношению к другим водителям.

6.Если у вас долгая поездка старайтесь вест машину по очереди в другим водителем и регулярно отдыхайте. Если уже не сил, остановитесь в мотеле, чтобы вздремнуть.

7.Дорога должна занимать всё ваше внимание, отвлечение в сторону даже на секунду может привести к аварии. Это включает такие вещи, как замена СД, разговор по мобильному телефону или с пассажирами или даже рассматривание пейзажа или аварий.

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13. Read and translate the text. Do you agree with all the patterns? Prove your opinion.

Highway Traffic

A good, safe, defensive driver is one who:

Knows and obeys the rules of the road.

Exercises care to avoid making any driving errors of their own.

Anticipates the mistakes of other drivers who may lack skill, use poor judgment or make unsafe maneuvers, which could jeopardize road safety.

Has learned to drive proficiently in different situations like highway or city driving, day and night driving, or driving under various weather conditions.

Uses extra care to avoid being involved in an accident or a close call due to weather, road conditions, traffic, or the actions of pedestrians and other drivers.

Keeps windows and mirrors clean with mirrors properly adjusted to provide the best possible view around the vehicle.

Is continually alert and watching for accident-producing situations in advance where defensive action may be required and is always prepared to react to the unexpected.

14.Read and translate the text.

Is There Such a Thing as a Safe Speed?

What's the relationship between defensive driving and legal speed limits? Is there such a thing as a safe speed? The answer is no. Thanks to a recent study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, we now have the research findings to prove it.

The Virginia Tech study tracked 100 cars in the Washington, D.C. area. What's interesting about this study is that it logged the daily experiences of real drivers in real driving situations. Instrumentation added to the cars allowed researchers to examine the causes of crashes and near crashes. At the same time, the instrumentation was so subtle that drivers quickly forgot it was there.

Each car in the study was monitored for about one year. The results tell us a great deal about defensive driving. The study found 82 collisions and crashes (with another vehicle or with a cyclist, pedestrian, or stationary object); 761 near crashes (defined as a rapid, severe maneuver that avoided a crash); and 8,295 incidents (evasive maneuvers that are not as severe as those involved in a near crash).

The study concluded that driver error was a contributing factor in more than 90% of the crashes and collisions that occurred. In 65% of all incidents and 80% of all near crashes, the driver looked away from the road ahead of him immediately before the threat materialized (defined as three seconds or less). The lesson is clear: Defensive driving means keeping your eyes on the road.

The study concluded that a major contributing factor in collisions is the driv-

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er's inattention to the road ahead of him. The study found that 18 to 20-year-olds are at the highest risk of being involved in a collision. (The study didn't include drivers under the age of 18). The study also shows that risk decreases with age: Defensive driving is a set of skills and mental habits that are acquired over the years.

The study found that the No. 1 cause of collisions was fatigue. Multitasking was the second leading cause of crashes and near crashes. The "secondary task distraction" that was involved in the greatest number of crashes, near crashes, and incidents was the use of hand-held wireless devices. Defensive driving means staying focused on the task of driving.

It's statistically safer to be around an experienced driver who is traveling ten miles over the speed limit on an interstate highway in good weather and light traffic, than to be near a distracted teenager driving home from the mall-a few miles under the speed limit, perhaps, but fiddling with a soda, munching on fries, and text messaging friends. As soon as an inattentive driver takes his eyes off the road, any speed is unsafe.

Inexperienced drivers react to hazards after they happen. Experienced drivers see potential hazards before they happen. They have time to drive out of danger because they see the danger in time.

It's always easy to know what kind of driver is ahead of you by watching how he uses his brakes. Masters of defensive driving are rarely in a situation where they have to slam on the brake. On the other hand, novices have to push on the brake as hard as they can to avoid a collision.

Be sure your teenagers learn this first lesson of defensive driving today: No speed is safe when they take their eyes off the road.

15. Read and translate the text.

How to Prevent Sleepiness when Driving

If there is an extra word in a line, write it next to the number, if it’s correct, put a tick (٧).

1______	One of the most a dangerous things that you can do when driv-
2______	ing is to continue driving once you've gotten sleepy. You are don't
3______	even have to fall asleep to cause damage on this the road - although
4______	that's a major concern – you are start risking your safety and the
5______	safety of others as soon as so you start driving while tired. Your re-
6______	flexes and reaction times did get slower and your attention drifts so
7______	you're simply not as prepared at the wheel as when you're wide
8______	awake. Unfortunately, there will are going to be times when you
9______	have to drive for long periods of time and you might get sleepy do-
10______	ing it. As a result, you are need to have an arsenal full of tricks up
11______	your sleeve that you can rely on to beat the sleepiness and stay alert
12______	on the road.
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