中国第二届全国交通安全日

 　　中国第二届全国交通安全日

　　There are about 160 million electric bicycles in China.

　　The numbers are increasing at a rate of 15 percent a year.

　　The growing number of electric bicycles on the road has also increased the fatality¹ rate.

　　Last year alone, more than 5-thousand people were killed riding an electric bicycle.

　　Li Rong, director of the World Health Organization's road safety project in China, says the high accident rate is due partly because riders don't know how to ride the electric bicycles properly.

　　"Some of the electric bike riders don't obey traffic rules. Speeding, carrying passengers, going in wrong directions, running red lights, and making phone calls while riding are five dangerous behaviors, among which speeding is the most common in China. Many of the electric bike riders are not familiar with traffic rules and they don't wear helmets while driving. "

　　National regulations are supposed to cap the speed limit for electric bicycles at 20 kilometers per hour.

　　However, high-power bicycles can reach 40 or even 60 kilometers per hour.

　　Brant Powis, advisor² to the WHO road safety project, says in most developed countries, electric bicycles are more of a recreational tool.

　　Here in China, electric bicycles are mainly considered an environmentally-friendly transportation tool.

　　"In Europe, the primary focus is on what may see behind this. I guess it's in a smaller version: light-weight, particularly using light-weight batteries and having a very low potential speed. And it's used often for recreational purposes. It's used in many big cities for the particularly aged³. This is a big advantage for an aging population throughout the world. In many cities, bicycles are used by older people."

　　Proponents⁴ of electric bicycles contend⁵ they reduce air and noise pollution, as well as increase city traffic efficiency.

　　But Li Rong says more regulations are still needed to ensure people's safety.

　　"Regarding laws and regulations, we should specify⁶ production standards of electric bikes and conduct safety checks on them. As to individuals, electric bike riders should familiarize themselves with the traffic rules and regulations. And they should also wear helmets while driving."

　　For CRI, this is Li Jing.

1 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。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

5 contend   

vi.竞争，搏斗，声称，主张；vt.坚持主张

参考例句：

• The firm is too small to contend against large international companies.这家公司太小，无法与国际性的大公司竞争。
• Let a hundred flowers blossom,let a hundred schools of thought contend.百花齐放，百家争鸣。

6 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。