新西兰英语 266 Raising the driving age

　　Listen to March 3rd 2010 for background to this.
The Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, said there will be changes for young drivers to improve road safety. We already know that the government has planned to raise the driving age to 16 but this is just the beginning. The driving age could go up to 17, in the future.
However, raising the driving age is only one way to improve safety. Young drivers need more practice at driving with an adult while they are still on a restricted¹ licence². Although most young people have some lessons with a driving instructor³, usually they are taught to drive by their parents or other family members. Parents need to give their sons and daughters a lot of driving experience.
Young drivers need practice at driving in all kinds of conditions such as in heavy traffic, in bad weather, on long distances and at night. They need to plan ahead, to watch what other drivers are doing and to be patient. In many countries, drivers must have 120 hours of practice with an adult before they can get a full licence. In New Zealand, drivers can usually take the practical⁴ test for their full driver licence after six months on a restricted licence. Steven Joyce said that the government will probably increase the length of time on a restricted licence and encourage young people to take road safety courses.
We have too many young drivers involved in accidents. It is time to make changes to our driving laws for young people.

1 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

2 licence   

n.证书；许可证，执照；v.许可；批准

参考例句：

• The restaurant applied for a licence to sell wine.那家餐厅申请售酒许可证。
• He hadn't paid his television licence fee.他尚未缴纳电视机使用许可费。

3 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

4 practical   

adj.实际的，实践的；实用的，应用的；有实际经验的

参考例句：

• He is a practical person.他是位很讲实际的人。
• Your invention is clever,but not practical.你的发明很巧，但不实用。