第2143期:Historic Bridges Are Under Threat from Modern GPS

Historic covered bridges in the United States are under threat by the use of the modern technology GPS. 美国历史悠久的廊桥正受到现代 GPS 技术的使用的威胁。 

GPS is short for Global Positioning System. The satellite system tells people who use map applications what roads to use to go from one place to another. GPS 是全球定位系统的缩写。 卫星系统告诉使用地图应用程序的人们从一个地方到另一个地方要使用哪些道路。 

The historic bridges usually have signs, including flashing lights, to warn trucks that are too tall or too heavy not to cross. But some truck drivers do not follow the warnings and crash into the bridge. They say the GPS directed them onto the bridge. Many times, the drivers are using systems made for cars instead of large trucks. 历史悠久的桥梁通常设有标志，包括闪烁的灯光，警告过高或过重的卡车不要通过。 但一些卡车司机没有遵守警告，撞上了桥。 他们说 GPS 引导他们到了桥上。 很多时候，司机使用的是为汽车而不是大型卡车设计的系统。 

In the northeastern state of Vermont, Lyndon town officials say the 146-year-old Miller’s Bridge has been hit more than 20 times. 在佛蒙特州东北部，林登镇官员表示，已有 146 年历史的米勒桥已被撞击超过 20 次。 

Justin Smith is an administrator for Lyndon. “GPS is the most general excuse that is given by drivers that do hit the bridge,” he said. Drivers can face a fine of $5,000 from the town, plus payments to the state. But he added that the real problem is drivers simply not thinking about their actions. 贾斯汀·史密斯 (Justin Smith) 是林登 (Lyndon) 的管理员。 “GPS 是撞桥司机给出的最普遍的借口，”他说。 司机可能会面临镇政府 5,000 美元的罚款，另外还要向州政府缴纳罚款。 但他补充说，真正的问题是司机根本没有考虑自己的行为。 

Jack Harris is the head of Lyndon’s police. He said that the bridge had to be closed twice for major repairs. Each time, it took several months to finish the job. 杰克·哈里斯是林登警察局局长。 他说，这座桥曾两次因大修而关闭。 每次都需要几个月的时间才能完成。 

In 2019, a truck hit the bridge supports. Engineering and repair costs were nearly $100,000, said Smith. 2019年，一辆卡车撞上了桥梁支架。 史密斯说，工程和维修成本接近 10 万美元。 

About half the time, the town gets its money back through the drivers’ insurance — if it catches them. Many drivers simply drive away without telling officials about the accident. A nearby security camera aimed at the bridge has helped officials find some drivers. 大约一半的情况下，该镇会通过司机的保险拿回钱——如果他们被抓到的话。 许多司机只是开车离开，没有告诉官员这起事故。 附近的一个针对大桥的安全摄像头帮助官员找到了一些司机。

“They will claim that they didn’t know they hit it and yet you’ll see the truck stop in the middle of the bridge and they’ll look up to see that they’re hitting the bridge,” Police Chief Harris said. 警察局长哈里斯说：“他们会声称他们不知道自己撞到了桥，但你会看到卡车停在桥中间，他们抬头一看就会发现自己撞到了桥。” 

Bill Caswell is president of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. He said trucks have damaged many covered bridges in Vermont and other states like Illinois and Ohio. 比尔·卡斯韦尔 (Bill Caswell) 是国家廊桥保护协会主席。 他说，卡车损坏了佛蒙特州以及伊利诺伊州和俄亥俄州等其他州的许多廊桥。 

Caswell said trucks hit a covered bridge in Cobb County, Georgia, so many times that officials put metal barriers at each end of it. The bridge also has warning signs and flashing lights.卡斯韦尔说，卡车多次撞上佐治亚州科布县的一座廊桥，官员们在桥的两端都设置了金属屏障。 桥上还设有警告标志和闪光灯。 

“Even with all the warnings, the barriers are still struck,” Caswell wrote to The Associated Press. “But the bridge is now protected.” 卡斯韦尔在给美联社的信中写道：“尽管发出了所有警告，障碍仍然存在。” “但这座桥现在受到了保护。” 

Back in Lyndon, the town is looking at plans to put a steel beam in front of the bridge. The beam would force trucks that are too tall to come to a stop.回到林登，该镇正在考虑在桥前放置一根钢梁的计划。 横梁会迫使太高的卡车无法停下来。 

A Google spokesperson said their Google Maps' app is made for drivers of cars and small trucks. The spokesperson added that drivers of larger vehicles should use different systems. 谷歌发言人表示，他们的谷歌地图应用程序是为汽车和小型卡车司机设计的。 该发言人补充说，大型车辆的驾驶员应该使用不同的系统。 

Apple also has a “Maps” app. The company did not answer an Associated Press email asking for comment. 苹果还有一个“地图”应用程序。 该公司没有回复美联社要求置评的电子邮件。 

In Lyndon, there are different ideas in town about what to do, said Smith, the administrator. 管理员史密斯说，在林登，镇上对于该做什么有不同的想法。 

“Some people obviously want to see something that protects the bridge so we can keep it in place,” he said. “Others are like: ‘It’s time to take it off and set it on the side and put a more standard bridge in.” “有些人显然希望看到一些可以保护桥梁的东西，这样我们就可以将其保持在适当