🎧 Audio
📖 Script
In 2018, a tragic accident occurred on a train in the United Kingdom. A young woman named Bethan Roper lost her life after she leaned out of a droplight window while the train was moving. This unfortunate incident led to serious consequences for the rail company involved. Recently, a court ruled that the company must pay a fine of £1 million due to their failure to ensure passenger safety. This case has drawn significant attention because it highlights the importance of safety regulations and the responsibilities of companies to protect their customers.
Bethan was traveling with friends when the accident happened. She leaned out of a window that was designed to be opened for ventilation. However, this window did not have proper safety warnings or barriers to prevent passengers from putting their heads or bodies outside. The investigation revealed that the rail company had been warned about the risks associated with these windows but had not taken adequate measures to address them.
The fine imposed on the rail company serves as a reminder to all transport companies about the critical importance of passenger safety. It is not just a legal obligation but also a moral one. Companies must ensure that their services are safe and that all necessary precautions are in place to prevent accidents. This includes regular safety checks, clear warning signs, and immediate responses to any identified risks.
The incident also sparked discussions about whether current safety standards on trains are sufficient. Many people are now questioning if more stringent measures should be implemented to prevent similar accidents in the future. The rail company’s failure to act on prior warnings has been a key factor in the court’s decision to impose such a significant fine.
Overall, this case serves as a wake-up call for the transport industry, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and proactive measures in safety management. It underlines the fact that, while convenience and efficiency are important, they should never come at the expense of safety.
📝 Vocabulary
- tragic: causing great sadness or suffering
例文: “The tragic accident affected the entire community.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- tragic accident
- tragic news
- tragic event
悲劇的な - consequence: a result or effect of an action or condition
例文: “Every decision has a consequence.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- serious consequence
- immediate consequence
- unexpected consequence
結果 - ventilation: the provision of fresh air to a room, building, etc.
例文: “Good ventilation is important in crowded spaces.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- proper ventilation
- ventilation system
- lack of ventilation
換気 - obligation: a duty or commitment
例文: “The company has an obligation to ensure safety.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- legal obligation
- moral obligation
- financial obligation
義務 - stringent: strict, precise, and exacting
例文: “The new rules are more stringent than before.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- stringent measures
- stringent standards
- stringent regulations
厳しい
✏️ Grammar Point
Comparative clause with “while” – “Bethan was traveling with friends when the accident happened.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
「when」は、過去の出来事を説明する際によく使われます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The rail company was fined £1 million because they ensured passenger safety.
- MCQ: What was the reason Bethan Roper leaned out of the train window?
a) To get fresh air
b) To take a photo
c) To call someone
d) To wave at friends - MCQ: What did the investigation reveal about the rail company?
a) They had never been warned about the risks
b) They had taken all necessary safety measures
c) They ignored prior warnings about window safety
d) They installed new safety barriers immediately
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- a) To get fresh air
- c) They ignored prior warnings about window safety
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the rail company fined for?
- Why do you think the rail company was warned about the window risks?
- What does the word “stringent” mean in the context of safety standards?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- The rail company was fined for failing to ensure passenger safety, leading to Bethan Roper’s death.
- The company was warned because the windows posed a significant safety risk to passengers.
- Stringent means strict or precise, indicating that current standards may need to be more rigorous.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
2018年、英国で発生した列車事故により、若い女性ベサン・ローパーが亡くなりました。彼女が列車の動いている最中に窓から身を乗り出したことが原因です。この事故に対し、鉄道会社には100万ポンドの罰金が科せられました。これは、乗客の安全を確保する義務を怠ったためです。この事件は、安全基準の重要性と企業の責任を再確認させるものであり、今後の改善が求められます。日本でも、安全対策の強化が議論される機会となるでしょう。
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20ej7rkj3ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
