badly-damaged wheel I shan't be able to drive it.

Policeman: We'il have to take some measurements of the skid marks and the

positions of the cars. We' 11 arrange to have it towed away when we've

finished. If you ring the police station tomorrow, they'll tell you what

to do.

　



Mr.Simpson Thank you very much.

Policeman Oh, er, by the way, is the young lady staying with you?

Mr.Simpson No, she's a friend of my wife. She's staying at the Station Hotel.

Her name is er Becky Softe. She has a friend with her and she'll need to

be told about the accident, I suppose. I--I don,t know...

Policeman We'll see to that. I expect you'll want to go to the hospital

to see how your wife is.

Mr.Simpson Yes, er I must go there now. I told my wife to wait there until I could

collect her in a taxi. I hope they don't keep her in.

Policeman If you feel well enough, you can get a taxi just around the next corner.

Mr.Simpson Yes, I'm fine. Goodnight.

Policeman Goodnight.



6. The Alcohol Limit and the Punishment

The limit of the amount of alcohol a driver is allowed to have in his blood is 80 milligrams for every 100 millilitres of blood: that is about one and a half litres of beer, or one double whisky.

If the driver is convicted of "being drunk while in charge of a motor vehicle", the usual sentence is a ) a heavy fine. b ) disqualification from driving for 12 months.

If the driver causes an accident, the sentence can be stricter. For example, a drunken driver who killed a pedestrian was sent to prison for 9 months, as well as being fined and losing his licence for a year. (A demonstrator who destroyed a tennis court as a protest was sent to prison for 18 months.)

　

7. How Do Police Detect Drunk Drivers

If the police suspect you of having drunk more than the limit (see above) they can ask you to blow into a breathalyser, which is a plastic bag; if the crystals inside turn green, the police can take you to a police station and take a blood sample. If the driver has had a drink less than 20 minutes before he is stopped, the breathalyser cannot be used.

Officially the police can stop you only if they think you are driving badly, but in practice they sometimes simply stop drivers, and give them the breathalyser test.

　

8. Different Opinions on the Alcohol Limit

Chief Inspector Kale (Head of Southern Police) would like the alcohol limit lowered and sentences made tougher.

Mrs. Nash (a lawyer) is often professionally involved in drinking and driving cases. She thinks judges are too kind, and that seniences should be made tougher.

Dr.Smalby has been asked to explain the effects of alcohol. He says fhat it slows down reactions, and affects vision.

Mrs.Houghton, whose six-year-old son, Tommy, was killed by a drunken driver. She thinks the driver should have been sent to prison for life.

Mr.Lambert knocked down a pedestrian while slightly drunk. He feels very guilty, and is convinced it would not have happened if he had not had a few drinks.

Mr.Crosby lost his licence six months ago, and, as a result, his job. He feels he was driving quite properly, and that the law was, and is, far too stiict.

Mrs.Austin lost her licence after having three whiskies. She was driving because her husband was drunk. She thinks she drives perfectly well after three whiskies and that the law is unfair.

James Connery (a famous racing driver) thinks that everybody reacts differently to alcohol. (He would be quite safe after drinking three whiskies. ) He thinks the limit should be raised.

Gabrielle Savage (a famous film actress) thinks ihe law should be abolished because it stops people having a good time.

上一页  [1] [2] [3] [4]