VOA常速英语2008年-Speed Cameras in US Catch Violators, Save Lives

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
07 February 2008
 

Each year about 13,000 people die on U.S. roads and highways in speed-related traffic accidents. A group of state governors says 35 jurisdictions¹ are now using automatic speed cameras. Government and insurance industry officials argue such cameras not only catch speeders, they slow down drivers and save lives. Paul Sisco has this searching for solutions report.

The goal of government leaders is to slow drivers down and make roadways safer. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which provided some of the video, show the speed cameras are meeting that goal.

Narration²: Automatic enforcement is a way to use technology to help law enforcement agencies identify and deter³ return traffic violations⁴.

The mounted cameras detect speeding cars, photograph the license⁵ plates, and violators are fined.

J. Tom Manger, a local police chief, says that the cameras are effective. He says, "Automative enforcement has a tremendous deterrent⁶ effect. You can look at the number of violations each month when the program started. Look at what we have now six years later, and see a significant reduction in the number of violations that are occurring."

An Arizona highway was the first in the United States to use mounted speed cameras. Here, the cameras reduce the number of speeders by more than 10 percent.

"This is just another way to create a safer environment," says Mayor Mary Manross of Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Insurance Institute study found that in residential⁷ areas, signs alone slow drivers down and cameras reduced speeding by as much as 70 percent.

Even so, Charles Terlizzi of the National Motorists Association opposes the speed traps, as he refers to the cameras. He says, "The only effect they have is locally where the cameras are placed and over a short period of time."

Many also argue the automatic cameras are not always accurate. But Chief Manger disagrees. "You can't get any more fair and objective and consistent than a photo enforcement program," he said.

The chief's community is the first in the Mid-Atlantic area to use the cameras. Arizona's governor urges cameras be placed statewide, while insurance officials suggest more communities slow down drivers this way.

1 jurisdictions   

司法权( jurisdiction的名词复数 )； 裁判权； 管辖区域； 管辖范围

参考例句：

• Butler entreated him to remember the act abolishing the heritable jurisdictions. 巴特勒提醒他注意废除世袭审判权的国会法令。
• James I personally adjudicated between the two jurisdictions. 詹姆士一世亲自裁定双方纠纷。

2 narration   

n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体

参考例句：

• The richness of his novel comes from his narration of it.他小说的丰富多采得益于他的叙述。
• Narration should become a basic approach to preschool education.叙事应是幼儿教育的基本途径。

3 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

7 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。