◎魏國金
The Dutch government said it wants to introduce a "green" road tax by the kilometer from 2012 aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent and halving congestion.
荷蘭政府指出，從2012年起，希望推行依行車公里計算的「綠色」道路稅，以期減少二氧化碳排放量10％，並使塞車情形減半。
The Cabinet approved a bill calling for drivers of an average passenger car to pay a base rate of 0.03 euro per kilometer, beginning in 2012. Drivers of heavier, more polluting vehicles will pay more, and the cost will go up for driving in peak hours.
荷蘭內閣通過一項議案，要求普通客車的駕駛人於2012年開始，支付每公里0.03歐元的基本稅率。車子較重、污染較大的駕駛人將付更多費用，在尖峰時段開車的成本將攀升。
GPS will track the time, hour and place each car moves and send the data to a billing agency.
衛星定位系統將追蹤每部車開動的時刻、時數與地方，並發送資料到一個計費單位。
But the annual road tax and purchase tax for new cars will be abolished, reducing the price of a new car 25 percent, the Transport Ministry said.
不過年度公路稅與新車購買稅將廢除，如此減少新車價格25％，運輸部指出。
Nearly 6 out of 10 drivers will benefit under the system, the ministry said, but government revenue would remain the same. Public transportation, including taxis, will be exempt.
10名駕駛人中近6人將受惠於此制度，運輸部說，然而政府稅收將維持一樣。公共運輸工具，包括計程車將免稅。
The ministry calculated that overall traffic will drop about 15 percent, peak-hour congestion will be halved, traffic deaths will fall 7 percent and carbon emissions from road travel will be cut by 10 percent.
運輸部估算整體交通量將下降15％，尖峰時刻的壅塞將減半，交通死亡案件將下降7％，並且交通產生的碳排放將減少達10％。
新聞辭典
levy︰動詞， 強索、徵收。例句︰The judge livied a $3 million fine against the factory for polluting the river.（法官因該工廠污染河流，處以300萬美元罰鍰。）
congestion︰名詞，壅塞、密集。例句︰I don’t like driving through Bangkok because there’s too much congestion.（我不喜歡在曼谷開車，因為交通太壅塞了。）
call for︰片語，要求、規定。例句︰The regulations call for working in three shifts.（章程規定按三班制工作。）
沒有留言:
張貼留言