英语趣味课堂：路规-Road Regulations

Julia: OK, Nathan. So we're talking about driving and are there any rules or regulations that you'd like to change?

Nathan: You know what, Jules, that an interesting question. I'm not sure that I want to change rules but I'd like the police to be stricter on the rules. Like if people jump the traffic lights, I don't know why there isn't a camera at every set of traffic lights just to stop people from doing that, you know. Or like speeding. It's very, very easy to put speed cameras in places but people seem to think that it's OK like the speed limit is the minimum speed.

Julia: Maybe the car manufacturers should have some responsibility then in maybe limiting their engine. What's the point in producing an engine that's big enough and powerful enough that you can go like two hundred kilometres an hour when the speed limits are only...have you ever driven in Germany where they don't have speed limits?

Nathan: I've been to Germany and been a passenger in a car but not driven, no.

Julia: I've been a passenger on the autobahns. I really enjoyed it actually.

Nathan: Yeah. Is that because you're a speed demon - adrenaline freak?

Julia: I like the freedom.

Nathan: Right.

Julia: And I think it takes away a lot of the road rage element.

Nathan: Right.

Julia: I think people do drive responsibly. Often people break laws simply because the laws are there, you know. If the law isn't there, people drive within their ability range so the autobahns they're, as far as I know, I think they have a high safety rate.

Nathan: Oh really?

Julia: Yeah, they have less accidents because when you've got speed limits this creates situations that actually present dangers on the road.

Nathan: Do those people then maybe I guess in Germany they maybe have better education about self responsibility when driving maybe?

Julia: Possibly. They also have very good cars, very safe cars.

Nathan: Right.

Julia: And you know if you've got like a Porsche or something that can go at that speed then it's so nice to be able to do that.

Nathan: Use it properly?

Julia: Yeah, and safely because you know there's not going to be somebody in that outside lane obeying the speed limit to the letter who's going to present a danger to you. You're free, you can go at the speed you want. If there's people that want to drive slow, they have a lane that they can drive more slowly in.

Nathan: Yeah.

Julia: So it kind of balances out. I think it's the restrictions that create the danger sometimes, based on the autobahns.

Nathan: OK.

Julia: Obviously driving through a residential area or where there's a school you've got to have, but I think those things we have in the UK, those speed policemen.

Nathan: Speed bumps.

Julia: Those speed bumps that force you to slow down, I think they're a good idea and perhaps the way to go.

Nathan: To go, so you don't think fining people is useful?

Julia: Not really, no, because that relies on the police time and the police don't have time to police every single driver all the time and do that.

重点词汇：

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

autobahn

I've been a passenger on the autobahns.

An autobahn is an expressway for cars in Germany where cars can drive really fast. Notice the following:

Like Germany, Switzerland and Austria have autobahns.

There is no speed limit on the autobahns, but there are few accidents.

adrenaline freak

Is that because you're an adrenaline freak?

Adrenaline is a chemical in your body you produce when stressed or excited. An adrenaline freak loves the feeling of adrenaline, so they love adventurous and dangerous activities. Notice the following:

People who like sky-diving are usually adrenaline freaks.

Young men tend to be more adrenaline freaks than old men.

speed demon

Is that because you're a speed demon?

A speed demon is someone who loves to ride or drive really fast. Notice the following:

He is a speed demon on his motorcycle.

Most combat pilots are speed demons.

residential area

You should drive slow in a residential area.

A residential area is an area with lots of housing. Notice the following:

He lives in a quiet residential area.

I like that residential area because it is not far from the downtown area.

speed bumps

Those speed bumps force you to slow down.

A speed bump is a small bump on the road that makes cars drive slowly. Notice the following:

There are many speed bumps near the school.

The parking lot has speed bumps so drivers drive slowly.