おはようございます！やさしい英語ニュースのAkiです。

本日は1週間の総復習として、YouTubeライブで時事Topicの復習クイズ大会を実施します！

１週間の学習の振り返りの場として、ぜひご活用くださいませ。

YouTubeライブ配信で、皆さんと交流できるのを楽しみにしています。

※「12/3（金）20時30分～」にYouTubeライブを実施しました。

「時事Topicの感想・意見」ご紹介

昨日に引き続き、メルマガ読者の皆さまからご提出いただいた感想・意見の中を匿名（イニシャル）でどど〜んとまとめてご紹介します。

MSさん

To reduce the number of accidents caused by elderly drivers, I think, first of all, we need to make it easier for them to stop driving when they should. Meal delivery and rides to supermarkets and hospitals can help, especially in remote rural areas. What do you think?

TMさん

I think maintaining convenience for elderly drivers is the most important to encourage them to return their drivers’ licenses. That’s because cars are indispensable for their daily lives especially in rural areas. For example, telemedicine allows them to connect with doctors through computers or smartphones without going to clinics.

YTさん

Surrendering a license needs a big decision to make. I think whenever they feel less ability, it is the time for that. But also we need to have other transportation options or something. Although we live in a rural area, my acquaintance in his nineties still drives almost everyday.

TKさん

I live in Yokohama. Not so urban, but not so rural areas. My husband and I are in our late sixties, and we need my husband’s driver’s license and our car in order to take care of his old parents, who are both over 90, even though we have more public transportation service than in rural areas. Until when? I have no idea. He might have to drive even after he is over 75.

KYさん

Whenever I hear news about accidents involving elderly drivers, I feel it is not other people’s problems. My dad aged 80, living in Tokyo, still drives daily. Even though I have tried to persuade him to surrender his license many times, he does not want to do so. I am always worried what if he made an accident and took somebody’s life. As long as he passes the tests required, there seems to be no way to stop him from driving. It will be too late if something happens….

KPさん

This is not someone else’s problem. We all get old. I worry about my parents. They are over 75 and both still drive. They live in rural areas in Shizuoka prefecture. I know cars are indispensable for daily life there. I wish they drive safely.

SUさん

First of all, I think we need a law to persuade car markers not to product cars without automatic braking system. Secondarily, only test passed aged people can reget the license. The test is for example, reflection test.

MZさん

As we become old, our reflexes deteriorate and get more crash-prone. However, there are lots of elderly people who are active and healthy. Cars are necessary for them to fulfill their lives. I think senior drivers’ licenses should be renewed more often but I don’t agree with age-based restrictions.

SNさん

I live in Australia and have different rules. Right turn signs allow the first, second, and both sides of the path. Also, there are signs here and there on the left side. The biggest difference is the roundabout. It is a very convenient system because there are no electric signs and the passage is very fast. Beyond 2%, speed violations can be prevented, so everyone follows the rules.

Up to 120km on the final way and freeway, 80km on the standard way. I’ve never heard of an accident where we made a mistake in braking. The roads are wide, there are 6 lines highways, it is almost free and there is a large parking lot. There is a school bus and parents need to drop off their children and pick them up. At least in Japan, I think drivers over the age of 75 need to have an automatic braking system installed.

MMさん

The issue spotlights that our national policies or regulations are always short of nationwide observations. Any issue related to all the people here in Japan should be thoroughly discussed and reviewed from every angle. We live in a mountainous country.

CHさん

I think it’s better to return drivers’ licenses than killing someone. But also I know the importance of the cars for rural areas elderly people because my hometown is such an area, too. It’s important to have a connection with families and friends to call for help when they need.

YLさん

Elderly drivers should give up driving. However, the public transportation services are not well in rural areas. The government should support them as offering free taxi tickets. It will also revitalize the taxi industries there. Then, automobile makers should develop cars equipped with safety devices such as an automatic braking.

KTさん

No matter how good you are, your judgment and athletic ability decline with age. I would like to encourage elderly people living in urban areas to return their drivers’ licenses as much as possible.

RNさん

The news that elderly people are returning their drivers’ licenses is no longer somebody else’s problem for me. Because my mother also returned her license to go shopping by her bicycle. I want local government to increase transportation services and hope that measure makes elderly people feel happy.

MKさん

I think it lacks of awareness of voluntary return to elderly drivers unless proper measure are taken. Though there are various different situations in urban area and regional district if they had alternative options or supported by governmental organization for elderly drivers it would more decreased.

KBさん

I doubt elderly people are prone to cause an accident. It is true that the rate of fatal accidents caused by elderly people is increasing. But the rate of accidents per 100,000 drivers of elderly people is decreasing. I think the news is exaggerated. We have to calm down.

19さん

As everyone says, I think it’s difficult for people to tickle with this problem. In my opinion, the government should compensate free taxi ticket instead of returning their driver’s licenses to governments voluntarily. However, that’s easier said than done.

JNさん

I don’t know if it is a good to encourage elderly drivers to surrender their licenses. That’s because cars are necessity for the elderly in many areas in Japan. For example, in the U.S. which is car-oriented societies, accidents caused by the aged are not as big a problem as in Japan.

ITさん

Traffic accidents have nothing to do with drivers’ ages. What matters is that all drivers follow the traffic rules. However, the older you get, the slower your reactions will be for a sudden change. So, the elderly people are expected to surrender their drivers’ licenses voluntarily.

HCさん

In order to prevent traffic accidents caused by elderly people in the future, surrendering their drivers’ licenses and installing automatic brakes are not enough. Because they can become traffic refugees without their cars. Wouldn’t it be convenient for elderly people to easily ride if they could use the shared minibus?

SFさん

I think the elderly should not be deprived of their right to drive, but these preventive measures are necessary. In addition to automatic braking systems, physical and recognition tests for all elderly people must be conducted regularly.

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素晴らしいご意見・ご感想を多数お寄せいただき、ありがとうございます！

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次回の予告：課題Topicディクテーション

次回はWeek2の「やさしい英語ニュース」ディクテーション課題をメルマガからお届けします。

どうぞ楽しみにお待ちください。！Have a good weekend…

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