2006年VOA标准英语-National Group Calls for Mandated Breath Analyz
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（十一月)
By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
22 November 2006
watch MADD report
In the United States, a group called Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, has led the way to safer roadways. The group's latest campaign would mandate 1 proven technology to save lives.
A fatal automobile 2 crash due to drunk driving
Killed by a drunk driver, the accident seen from a dashboard camera, a grandfather mourns. ''...Just like we got hit by a bomb,” he says.
The father is grief-stricken: “It's absolutely devastating 3 to lose a child,” says Neil Flynn. “I can't explain it in words.”
Thousands are injured and killed each year by drunk drivers in the United States alone. Glynn Birch, with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, wants drunk driving eliminated. "The main reason people continue to drive drunk today is because they can, and because we let them."
Glynn Birch
MADD wants alcohol detection devices in every vehicle, and laws to require them in vehicles driven by convicted drunk drivers. "First time offenders 4 need and deserve an alcohol ignition interlock," says Birch.
The devices, also called breath interlocks, have reduced highway fatalities 5 significantly in the southwestern state of New Mexico, where they are mandatory 6 after a first offense 7. To use one, you breathe into the device. It won't allow you to start your car if your blood alcohol is too high. Pass and you can drive off.
Susan Ferguson is with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States. She says, "To eliminate the carnage caused by drunk drivers we must do more to prevent them from driving drunk. Technology that holds the key to keeping convicted drivers off the road is currently available. Breath alcohol ignition interlocks fitted to the vehicles of drunk drivers can effectively separate drinking and drunk driving."
Glynn Birch says an interlock device might have prevented the death of his son Courtney. His organization says all vehicles should have them. And it says laws mandating 8 the devices will save lives.
- The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
- The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。
- He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
- The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
- It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
- Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。
- Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
- Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
- Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
- The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
- There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。
- I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
- His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。