2007年VOA标准英语-Insurance Company Using Technology to Reduce Te

By Mil Arcega
Washington
19 March 2007
 
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A major U.S. insurance company is offering new technology to its customers, which could significantly reduce accidents.  The program targets risky¹ teenage drivers by giving parents the ability to view and track their children's driving habits.  American Family Insurance Company says its “drive cam” technology could save lives and lower insurance costs.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says crashes are the number one killer² of U.S. teens.

In fact, new data shows the fatality³ rate for teenage drivers is four times higher than for drivers 25 years or older.  American Family Insurance believes one way to reduce the high rate is to eliminate risky driving behavior among teens.

To do that, they mount a small camera on a rear view mirror -- so parents, such as Dave Hackworthy, can monitor their child's driving habits. "It's held him accountable for driving.  It's put him in a position where he knows he's being watched," says the dad.

 
Rusty⁴ Weiss
Rusty Weiss, a director at Drivecam, which developed the technology for consumer use, says the camera only records abrupt⁵ maneuvers⁶ -- then emails it to parents. "It lets parents set a clear expectation, to drive in a manner that doesn't cause the camera to trigger.  Pretty simple message."

Gary Fox, one of 30 teens who took part in a pilot project at Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin, is convinced it works. "It will actually make me a better driver.  When you do something wrong, make a sharp turn really fast, stop really fast - then it goes off."

Critics of the program have raised concerns about privacy.  But American Family Insurance spokesman Steve Witmer says only parents will have access to the video. "It's sent directly to the parents.  Edgewood High School doesn't see the information, American Family Insurance doesn't see the information, but people who need to see the information are the parents and the students."

American Family Insurance is now offering the program free for one year to 30,000 families in selected states.  If the system proves effective in preventing accidents, the company says volunteers who use it could see their insurance rates drop.

1 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 fatality   

n.不幸，灾祸，天命

参考例句：

• She struggle against fatality in vain.她徒然奋斗反抗宿命。
• He began to have a growing sense of fatality.他开始有一种越来越强烈的宿命感。

4 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

5 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

6 maneuvers   

n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He suspected at once that she had been spying upon his maneuvers. 他立刻猜想到，她已经侦察到他的行动。 来自辞典例句
• Maneuvers in Guizhou occupied the Reds for four months. 贵州境内的作战占了红军四个月的时间。 来自辞典例句