2007年VOA标准英语-World Youth Assembly Tackles Road Safety

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
23 April 2007

Young people attending the First U.N. Global Road Safety Week say road accidents can be greatly reduced if young people are involved and given a voice in decision-making. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA that about 400 young people from 100 countries are attending the first ever World Youth Assembly in Geneva to explore road safety measures.

A report by the World Health Organization says road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for 10 to 24 year-olds. Nearly 400,000 of the 1.2 million deaths from car crashes every year involve young people under the age of 25.

Nelly Ghusayni, Chairperson for Youth Assembly for Road Safety, speaks about first UN Global Road Safety Week, at European headquarters of UN in Geneva, 23 Apr 2007

The 400 youth delegates¹ at the meeting know they are at particular risk and they are committed to doing something about it. Youth Assembly chairperson, Nellie Ghusayni, 21, from Lebanon, says the high point of the meeting will be the adoption² of the Youth Declaration³ for Road Safety.

"This document is the main outcome⁴ of this Assembly for all of us. It has taken us more than six months to prepare this document and it is the first of its kind," she said. "It is the first time that young people write down what they think the main problems on the roads are and how they think they should be handled. So, this declaration addresses main road safety issues and we address our parents, our schools and universities, policy makers⁵, governments, celebrities⁶. Everyone we feel has a role in promoting road safety."

The Declaration suggests practical measures to improve road safety. The delegates pledge⁷ to wear seatbelts and motorcycle helmets and to avoid speeding and drink driving.

The report finds the vast majority of deaths and injuries occur in low and middle-income countries. The highest rates are found in Africa and the Middle East. It says young people from poor families are at greatest risk in every country. And, young males are at higher risk for road traffic fatalities⁸ than females in every age group under 25 years.

Ghusayni says the solution to safer driving does not necessary lie in taming the wild spirits of young people.

"We all like speeding and we really are at the point in our lives where we want to rebel against everything-all the rules or all the guidelines," she continued. "We will do everything we can, which is only normal. We test our boundaries and we test our limits. But, to get them really interested in this because this is something that is really un-cool for everyone. It is like the most horrible thing to be the responsible person while not drinking while driving is getting them involved. And this is why so many of the young people in the hall up there are really excited because it is the first time that they feel that they are involved."

When young people have a voice, Ghusayni says they feel they are in control and can do something that can make a difference.

The World Health Organization says measures such as lowering speed limits, cracking down on drink driving and using seat belts can significantly reduce the number of road deaths and injuries.

1 delegates   

代表，代表团成员( delegate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conference was attended by delegates from 56 countries. 此次会议有来自56个国家的代表出席。
• Delegates expressed strong opposition to the plans. 代表强烈反对这些计划。

2 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

3 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

4 outcome   

n.结果，出口，演变

参考例句：

• The outcome of the experiment is in the lap of the gods.实验结果尚难预料。
• The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。

5 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

7 pledge   

n.保证，誓言，抵押，抵押品；vt.保证，誓言，举杯祝...健康

参考例句：

• Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship.收下这枚戒指当作我们友谊的信物。
• The old man is willing to pledge for him.那位老人愿意为他担保。

8 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》