新奇事件簿 停车不熄火将受罚（在线收听）

Drivers in central London will soon face a $30 fine if they sit in traffic without turning off their engine. Authorities want to reduce the amount of pollution in England's capital city. The fines could start on May 1. Throughout April, traffic wardens in the London district of Westminster will ask motorists to turn off their car engines if they are not driving. If people do not follow their advice, the new law will start. The fines are because local residents and businesses complained about the air quality in London. Westminster has the second highest proportion of deaths from air pollution in Britain. A spokeswoman, Heather Acton, said: "The council is committed to improving air quality in Westminster."

在伦敦市中心，停车不灭火的司机将面临30美金的罚款。有关部门希望能够减轻伦敦的污染。这项惩罚措施将在5月1日启动。在4月份期间，伦敦威斯敏斯特地区的交通管理人员将要求司机停车熄火。如果民众不遵守建议，那么新法将启动。由于当地居民和商人抱怨伦敦的空气质量，所以惩罚措施应运而生。威斯敏斯特地区的空气污染致死率排在全英的第二位。发言人希瑟·阿克顿称：“议会有责任提高威斯敏斯特地区的空气质量。

Ms Acton told reporters about the importance of keeping people moving on the roads and reducing air pollution. She said: "Motor traffic plays an important role in keeping our city moving, which is vital for its economic prosperity. We want to raise motorist awareness of the impact engine idling can have on the environment, with air and noise pollution affecting overall health." Not everyone is happy with the new fine. The Institute of Advanced Motorists warned that people could see the fine as a "revenue-raising exercise". It said the traffic wardens should focus on "old buses, coaches, large trucks, utility company vans or taxis idling for long periods" and not on energy-efficient cars.

阿克顿女士告诉了记者关于减少空气污染以及道路行驶的重要性。她说：“汽车对于我们的城市，我们的经济来说都至关重要。我们想让司机意识到引擎在不转动状态下对环境所造成的影响，空气和噪音都会对我们的健康产生影响。”有些人对这一惩罚措施表示不满。汽车高级驾驶协会警告称人们会把这次惩罚措施看成是提高收入的一种手段。人们认为交通管理员应该注重那些在公路上待命的老旧公交车、长途车、卡车、货车以及出租车，而不是那些能效高的汽车。