2006年VOA标准英语-National Group Calls for Mandated Breath Analyz

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 mandate¹ proven technology to save lives. 

 
A fatal automobile² 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 devastating³ 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 offenders⁴ need and deserve an alcohol ignition interlock," says Birch.

The devices, also called breath interlocks, have reduced highway fatalities⁵ significantly in the southwestern state of New Mexico, where they are mandatory⁶ after a first offense⁷. 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 mandating⁸ the devices will save lives. 

1 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• 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。

2 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• 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。

3 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• 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。

4 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• 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。

5 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》

6 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• 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。

7 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• 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。

8 mandating   

托管（mandate的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Current requirements mandating that committees keep minutes are too general. 目前对委员会要保持详细记录的指令性要求，还是太过一般化了。
• Mandating that workers who quit without permission forfeit a month's wages. 规定工人私自离岗将受到罚没一个月工资的处罚。