A federal agency on Tuesday called for a ban on all
cellphone use by drivers -- the most far-reaching recommendation up to now —
saying its decision was based on a decade of investigations into
distraction-related (与分散注意力有关的) accidents, as well as growing concerns
that powerful mobile devices are giving drivers even more reasons to look away
from the road.
As part of its recommendation, the National
Transportation Safety Board is urging states to ban drivers from using
hands-free devices, including wireless headsets. No state now has made laws to
ban such activity, but the Board said that drivers faced serious risks from
talking on wireless headsets, just as they do by taking a hand off the wheel to
hold a phone to their ears.
However, the concern was heightened by increasingly
powerful phones that people can use to send e-mails, watch movies and play
games.
“Every year, new devices are being on sale.” she said.
“People are attracted to update their Facebook page, to play music with
cellphone, as if sitting at a desk. But they are driving a car.”
The agency based its recommendation on evidence from
its investigation of numerous crashes in which electronic distraction was a
major contributing factor.
Ms. Hersman said she understood that this
recommendation would be unwelcome in some circles, given the number of drivers
who talk and text. But she compared distracted driving to drunken driving and
even smoking, which required wholesale cultural shifts to change behavior.
“It’s going to be very unpopular with some people.”
she said. “We’re not here to win a popularity contest. We’re here to do the
right thing. This is a difficult recommendation, but it’s the right recommendation
and it is time.”
The agency’s recommendation is not required for states
to adopt such a ban. And it won’t likely be agreed upon by state lawmakers who
are unwillingly to anger those who have grown accustomed to using their device
behind the wheel.
The ban also deserves attention because it is the
first call by a federal agency to end the practice completely, rather than the
partial ban that some lawmakers have put in place by allowing hands-free
talking.
1.The ban on all cellphone use by drivers was put
forward ______.
A．after a long
discussion and recommendation
B．after about
ten years’ investigation in it
C．because of
the most powerful mobile devices
D．for the
reason of heading away from the road
2.We can know from the passage that ______.
A．electronic
distraction resulted in numerous crashes
B．numerous
crashes were caused by drunk driving
C．electronic
distraction contributed much to the ban
D．the
recommendation was based on electronic distraction
3.Ms Hersman thinks that distracted driving, drunken
driving and smoking ______.
A．are just
common behaviors B．can be
shifted to behaviors
C．are behaviors
to be changed D．are just
cultural behaviors
4.Which of the following is the best title of the
passage?
A．Cellphone Ban
in Cars
B．Valuable Ban
for Cellphones
C．Drivers Ban
Cellphones
D．Cellphone Ban
while Driving
