Interviewer:
Mark Theed is with us today to talk about
speed cameras. Mark, are speed cameras successful at preventing accidents?
Mark Theed:
Well, speed cameras force people to reduce
their speed and, since driving too fast is the reason for most accidents on our
roads, yes, we can say that speed cameras are successful. Did you know that
many speed cameras don’t even have any film in them?
They are fake cameras and they are there because as soon as drivers see
a camera they slow down.
Interviewer:
Now, the numbers of speed cameras have
increased in recent years, haven’t they?
Mark Theed:
Yes, they have. There are about 5.400 speed
cameras in the UK now. Now
, on many
roads, these have reduced accidents by about 50%, which means that many deaths
have been prevented, too. According to recent statistics, 873 fewer people
are killed or seriously injured on roads every year because these cameras are
there.
Interviewer:
Mark, tell us about the actual cameras. How do
they catch speeding drivers?
Mark Theed:
Well, there are different types of cameras.
One type is called the “forward facing” camera. It takes a photo of the front
of a car, allowing police to identify both the number plate and the driver.
It’s becoming very popular because
, in
the past, some drivers caught speeding didn’t pay their fines in the end
because they claimed that they didn’t know who was driving their car at the
time of the offence. These cameras take away any doubt about that. Another
type of camera is “mobile” speed camera. These cameras are cameras that are
hidden in police cars, motorcycles and vans
.
The great thing about them is that not many drivers know about them. Most
drivers think that speed cameras are always fixed to posts on the road. But
soon there may be more “mobile” cameras than “fixed” cameras.
Interviewer:
I understand that some drivers are against
speed cameras.
Mark Theed:
Yes,
that’s true. These drivers feel that
it’s
unfair and unnecessary to have speed cameras
on every road.
They say that
drivers should only be punished if they speed in areas next to schools or
where there are lots of pedestrians.
Others say that there should be no speed limit on motorways. A few drivers are
so upset about having speed cameras on the roads they have even damaged or
totally destroyed them!
Interviewer:
So Mark… remind us of the penalties of
speeding…
Mark Theed:
Well, you pay a fine, of course, every time
you are caught speeding, but you also get “points” put on your license.
As soon as you get 12 points, your license
is taken away from you. Clearly this is a disaster for people who really
need their cars for their jobs. Sometimes they even lose their jobs.
It can be very easy to get 12 points on
your license if you drive a lot – you only have to be caught speeding
4 times, after all.
Interviewer:
What do the police themselves think of speed
cameras?
Mark Theed:
Good question. You know, many people believe
that the police operate speed cameras in order to make money. Of course, this
is not true at all. The money that speed cameras make does not even go to the
police.
Drivers think they are very
clever if they find out exactly where the police have placed
the cameras, and slow down in those areas.
But this is exactly what the police want to happen! The police don’t want
to have to catch drivers who speed. They would prefer it if everyone drove well
under the speed limit and our roads were safe.
Задание
3.
Ключевые фразы и слова:
1 fake cameras
10 the time of offence
2 to slow
down
11 to take away any doubt
3 to reduce
accidents
12
to be hidden in police cars
4 to
prevent deaths
13 to be fixed to posts
5 the
number plate
14
unfair and unnecessary
6 to
identify
15 pedestrians
7 to be
caught speeding
16 to get points put on
your license
8 not to
pay fines
17 a disaster
9 to claim
18 to drive
under the speed limits
Вы услышите интервью с мужчиной о камерах контроля скорости.
В заданиях А8 – А14 обведите цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую номеру
выбранного вами варианта ответа.
A8
Mark says speed cameras are successful
because
1 there are so many of them.
2 drivers don`t know they are there.
3 they remind drivers to drive slowly.
A9
On roads with speed cameras,
there are often
1 no deaths from accidents at all.
2 half as many accidents as usual.
3 about 400 fewer accidents per year.
A10
Mark says that in the past,
some people didn`t have to pay their speeding fines because
1 they changed the number plate on their car
2 the photo of their number plate was not clear
3 they said they weren`t the person who was
driving
A11
Mark says the advantage of “mobile “ speed
cameras is that
1 most people don`t know they exist.
2 they catch more people than fixed cameras.
3 only a few are needed.
A12
Some people believe that it
would be better if speed cameras were
1 only on busy roads.
2 only where they are really needed.
3 on every road.
A13
Mark says that people who lose their
driving licenses
1 usually lose them for twelve months.
2 have been caught speeding four times.
3 have refused to pay their fines.
A14
According to Mark, the police
1 like speed cameras because they make money
from them.
2 think that speed limits should be lowered.
3 are happy if drivers know the location of
cameras.
