VOA慢速英语2019 澳大利亚利用科技惩罚开车玩手机的司机（在线收听）

Australia’s most populous state is setting up cameras as part of an effort to reduce the number of people preoccupied with wireless devices while they drive.

澳大利亚人口最多的州将安装摄像头，这是为减少开车玩无线设备的人数所采取的部分举措。

Andrew Constance is Minister for Transport and Roads in the southeastern state of New South Wales. He said Monday that New South Wales would be the first area in the world to use the technology to punish drivers distracted with telephone calls, social media or text messages.

安德鲁·康斯坦是位于澳大利亚西南部的新南威尔士州的交通和道路部长。他在周一表示，新州将成为全球首个使用这项技术的地区，目标是惩罚因电话、社交媒体或短信而分心的司机。

Road safety experts are concerned about the growing number of accidents involving drivers using smartphones on the state’s roads. They say drivers who use phones while driving greatly increase their chances of being involved in an accident.

因司机在新州道路上使用智能手机而引发的交通事故日益增加，道路安全专家对此感到担心。他们表示，司机在开车时使用手机会大大增加其卷入事故的几率。

Constance said that the New South Wales government plans to place 45 Mobile Phone Detection Cameras across the state by December. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported his comments.

康斯坦表示，到今年12月，新州政府计划在全州安装45个手机检测摄像头。澳大利亚广播公司报道了康斯坦的介绍。

Each phone detection unit contains two cameras. One camera takes pictures of a vehicle’s registration plate. A second camera looks through the front window of a car or truck to see what drivers are doing with their hands.

每个手机检测装置包含两个摄像头。一个摄像头负责拍摄车牌号码。另一个摄像头透过前风挡玻璃查看驾驶员的手在做什么。

The units use artificial intelligence to set aside drivers who are not touching their phones. Human beings then confirm if the pictures show illegal behavior before a notice is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner. A violation carries a fine of $232. Some cameras will be permanently set up on roadsides. Others will be moved, from time to time, around the state.

该装置采用人工智能技术，可将未触碰手机的司机排除在外。随后由专人来确认所拍到的照片是否存在违法行为，确认属实后会向车主发送违法通知。违法司机将被罚款232美元。其中部分摄像头将长期固定于路侧。其余摄像头则将时不时地被移动到全州各处。

Two fixed cameras took photographs of 8.5 million vehicles as part of a six-month test earlier this year. The cameras took photos of more than 100,000 drivers with their hands on phones. One driver was using a phone and another electronic device, an Apple iPad, at the same time. Another driver had a passenger guide the vehicle while they both held phones, the state government said.

新州在今年早些时候进行了为期6个月的测试，期间两个固定摄像头拍摄了850万辆车的照片。依据摄像头拍到的照片，其中有10万余名司机手持手机。一名司机甚至同时使用手机和另一个电子设备iPad。新州政府表示，还有一名司机驾驶时手持手机，而一名向车走来的路人也拿着手机。

The government wants to expand the program to 135 million photo checks a year by 2023. New South Wales has 5.2 million registered vehicles.

新州政府希望，到2023年能将这个项目扩张到每年检查1.35亿次。目前新州有520万辆注册车辆。

Not everyone agrees with the new program. Peter Khoury represents Australia’s National Roads and Motorists’ Association. He accused the government of using secretive methods to cut down on illegal phone use. The association supports tougher action against drivers distracted by phones. However, the group wants the government to set up signs warning motorists that phone detection cameras were operating in an area.

并不是所有人都赞成这项新计划。彼得·库利是澳大利亚国家道路与汽车司机协会的代表。他指责政府采用秘密方法削减非法手机使用。该协会支持对因手机而分心的司机采取更严格的措施。然而，这一协会希望政府设置标志来警告司机某个区域装有手机检测摄像头。

Government modeling found that the phone detection cameras could prevent 100 deaths and serious injuries over five years.

政府模型发现，手机检测摄像头有望在五年内预防100起致命和造成严重伤害的交通事故。

A total of 354 people died on New South Wales roads last year.

去年，新南威尔士州一共有354人死于交通事故。

Officials said more than 16,500 drivers had been fined for illegally using phones this year.

官员表示，今年有超过1.65万名司机因非法使用手机而被罚款。

Drivers are permitted to use phones in hands-free carriers and through wireless connections. But it is illegal in New South Wales to touch a phone while driving except to pass it to a passenger. The ban extends to drivers who are sitting at red lights or stopped in heavy traffic.

司机可以通过免提模式或者蓝牙使用手机。但是，开车时触碰手机在新州是违法行为，司机将手机递给乘客除外。这项禁令也适用于遇红灯或堵车而停车的司机。

Andrew Constance said the state government was easing the law to permit drivers to pay with their phones at restaurant drive-thrus.

安德鲁·康斯坦表示，新州政府将放宽法规，允许司机在汽车穿梭餐厅使用手机付款。

Words in This Story

artificial intelligence – n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior

distracted – adj. unable to think about or pay attention to something; unable to concentrate

detection – n. the act or process of discovering, finding, or noticing something

plate - n. a metal plate on a vehicle that shows a series of numbers and letters that are used to identify the vehicle