英闻天下——54 China's New Traffic Rules Stir Controversy

 　　China's revised traffic regulations have stirred up controversy¹ since it took effect on January 1st.

 

　　They are believed to be the most stringent² traffic regulations in the country.

 

　　The Ministry³ of Public Security says the new laws are intended to create a "civilized⁴ driving environment."

 

　　Li Dong has the details.

 

　　According to the new rules, 52 different kinds of violations⁵ can result in penalties, up from 38 under the previous regulation. And the new rule also doubled penalties drivers face. In addition, drivers counterfeiting⁶ the motor vehicle plates or not installing one properly will have 12 points deducted⁷ immediately from the previous 6 points.

 

　　A bunch of drivers have already had their 12 points deducted for these offences. Now they have to take a week-long traffic rule training and sit in for a test before they can get hit the road again.

 

　　One of the most disputed revisions is that according to the revised Regulation for Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses⁹, drivers in China will face heavier penalties for running red or yellow lights.

 

　　Drivers who are caught running red or yellow lights will have six points deducted from the license⁸ – half of their 12-point limit. Previously¹⁰, it was three points for running red and none for running yellow lights. This means that now drivers who run the lights twice will have to take the driving test again.

 

　　Many drivers say the punishment is quite heavy and they need to be more careful than before.

 

　　"If I run a red light twice, I will have to retake the traffic training course. I am very busy. I could lose my job for this. I can't afford to take the risk."

 

　　There are also drivers who said that they have always been law abiding¹¹. But some others voiced their worry about the yellow light rule.

 

　　"I don't know whether I can stop if the light suddenly turns yellow. Plus, I think it will be better that the traffic lights are installed with countdown meters. If I know how much time is left I can decide whether to stop or not."

 

　　Drivers are complaining it's hard to stop before the yellow light when the car is close to the line. And a suddenly stop also risks fender-bender accident. They are questioning if yellow traffic light is functioning as the red one, there is no need to keep both.

 

　　Actually drivers have already shared a number of fender-bender stories online as well as tips of how to avoid running yellow light.

 

　　Li Qin, director of traffic order management of the Traffic Management Bureau of The Ministry of Public Security says yellow lights serve a good purpose.

 

　　"The function of yellow light is to clear the crossing and make way for the cars, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians¹² coming from the opposite direction. It's dangerous to rush across a yellow light. There are many cases of accidents caused by running a yellow light."

 

　　A number of cities have said they are not handing out penalty to drivers running yellow light now.

 

　　The new rule also stipulates¹³ that drivers with less than one year's driving experience cannot drive on expressways alone.

 

　　According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Security, there were 62,000 traffic fatalities¹⁴ in 2011.

 

　　In a poll on Sina.com, 67 percent of more than 1,000 participants supported the revised traffic rules.

 

　　Some have suggested pedestrians should conform to road rules because they often jaywalk.

 

　　For CRI, I am Li Dong.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

5 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。

6 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

7 deducted   

v.扣除，减去( deduct的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The cost of your uniform will be deducted from your wages. 制服费将从你的工资中扣除。
• The cost of the breakages will be deducted from your pay. 损坏东西的费用将从你的工资中扣除。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

11 abiding   

adj.永久的，持久的，不变的

参考例句：

• He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
• He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。

12 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

14 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• 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》