英伦广角 2011-10-15 危险驾车面临长期徒刑

 One moment in 2006 changed Cerys Edward's life for good, her mom Tracey was driving when they were hit by a vehicle traveling a 70 miles per hour in a thirty zone. Cerys then aged¹ one was left brain damaged and paralyzed. The driver of the other car was given a 21-month jail term just below the maximum, but served only six months.

 

A new law would see those committing similar offenses³ in prison for up to five years. 

 

"I think the sentences will make people think twice, but I do believe that if they make samples and give maximum sentences that’s when it will make a difference." Under current legislation, the court limited their sentencing powers. 

 

Those found guilty of dangerous driving face a prison sentence for up to two years, while the other end of the scale, death by dangerous driving could result in a maximum of 14 years in jail. The idea of new offense² is the plug of gap. 

 

Cases of causing serious injury by dangerous driving which are dealt with in the magistrates⁴ court will have a maximum penalty of six months in prison, a 5000-pound fine or both. While in the Crown Court of dependence⁵ would face jail term up to five years or a unlimited⁶ fine or both punishments. The road safety charity Brake has been calling for a change in the law.

 

"This in previous five years is really good, step in the right direction, is a better move towards getting justice of those victims need. And it also hopefully what I said is a big more of deterring⁷ to say to dangerous drivers. Your behavior is unacceptable and we are going to punish you accordingly. 

 

Cerys is nearly six now, and she just made a remarkable⁸ progress, but she is still fed by a tube and needs a ventilator to breath. 

 

"Good girl, we can hear it. But you would back on to the ventilator. Good girl."

 

A longer sentence would have changed that. But for Tracey, it would at least be a sense of justice being done.

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 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。

3 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

4 magistrates   

地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to come up before the magistrates 在地方法院出庭
• He was summoned to appear before the magistrates. 他被传唤在地方法院出庭。

5 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

6 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

7 deterring   

v.阻止，制止( deter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• However, investors say are a number of issues deterring business. 然而，投资者表示，有很多问题让他们却步。 来自互联网
• It's an effective way of deterring potential does online, the logic goes. 逻辑上这是抑制潜在线上威胁的有效方法。 来自互联网

8 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。