264 Future Traffic
264 未来的交通
Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
一些悲观的专家觉得汽车注定要被废弃。他们预见在不久的将来，有一天所有的汽车都会被抛弃，任其生锈。其他权威们则认为汽车还会存在。他们认为在可预见的未来，汽车仍将是城市交通的主要工具。
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types. Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urbantraffic congestion . One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
在以后30年中，汽车毫无疑问会有重大的变化。它会变得更小，更安全，更经济，而且不再由汽油发动机驱动。未来的汽车应当比现在的汽车环保得多，无论用什么能源．未来的汽车将依然是城市交通拥挤的主要原因。这个问题的一个解决办法就是建立自动高速公路系统。
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically.Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car's movements.
当汽车进入高速公路系统，一支可伸缩臂就会从车上落下，与铁轨接触，这种铁轨与给地下列车供电的铁轨相似。一旦与铁轨连接，汽车就由系统供电，汽车的操纵将会交给中央计算机。然后计算机将监控汽车的一切运行状况。
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
驾驶员可以使用电话，将目的地的指令输入监控系统。计算机将计算出最佳路线，并且为汽车预留通道，使它一路畅通，直达正确的高速公路出口。然后司机就可以自由休息，等蜂鸣器提醒他即将到达出口。据估计，自动调整公路每小时能够运送10，000辆车，而现在的调整公路每小时只能运送1，500到2，000辆车。