衛星導航器「每年損毀2千座橋」

自由時報20080510 Sat-navs 'damage 2,000 bridges per year'

◎陳成良

Sat-navs 'damage 2,000 bridges per year'

衛星導航器「每年損毀2千座橋」

Satellite navigation devices have been blamed for causing millions of pounds worth of damage to railway crossings and bridges.

衛星導航裝置被認為是造成鐵路平交道及橋樑數百萬英鎊損失的禍首。

Network Rail claims 2,000 bridges are hit every year by lorries that have been directed along inappropriate roads for their size.

（英國）鐵路網公司聲稱，每年有2千座橋樑遭貨車撞擊，這些車子是被導引到沿著不適合其車體大小的道路上行駛。

They said the damage and disruption has cost the rail industry £10 million a year and causes 5,000 hours of delays.

他們表示，這種毀損及中斷每年造成鐵路工業1千萬英鎊損失，並導致5千小時的誤點。

Rail bosses have appealed to drivers to pay attention to road signs warning them of hazards ahead rather than trusting their GPS systems.

鐵路業者已籲請駕駛人要注意警示他們前方有危險的交通號誌，而不要輕信他們的全球衛星定位系統。

PJ Taylor, from Network Rail, said in the last few years the number of vehicles hitting bridges had increased sharply.

鐵路網公司的泰勒表示，過去幾年間，撞擊橋樑的車輛數目急遽增加。

He said: "Sat-navs are a great tool but they are not an alternative for keeping your wits about you and obeying the rules of the road."

他說：「衛星導航系統是很棒的工具，但它們不是讓你臨危不亂，以及遵守道路交通規則的代替品。」

He added that talks were now under way with satellite navigation companies about how to resolve the problem. Network Rail said it was attempting to map the UK's low bridges and level crossings so that information could be fed into sat-nav software.

他補充說，當局正與衛星導航系統公司，就有關如何解決這個問題進行會商。鐵路網公司表示，它正試圖繪製英國低矮橋樑及地面平交道的地圖，以便把相關資訊加入衛星導航軟體。

新聞辭典

hazard：名詞，危險；危害物。例句 A soldier's life is full of hazards.

（士兵的生活充滿了危險。）

under way：片語，已經開始並進行著。例句：This project is under way. （這件企畫正進行中。）

keep one's wits about one：片語，保持機警，臨危不亂。 例句：Keep your wits about you and swim to shore. （保持冷靜，游到岸邊。）