Authorities in the USA are recalling a record 34
million cars because of safety concerns over the airbags fitted in them. The
manufacturer of the airbags has admitted that mechanisms
inside the bags are defective and
thus need
to be repaired or replaced. A spokesman from the company Takata said that the
airbags open too quickly on
impact, which can cause broken glass or shards of metal to be
propelled
into the face of the driver or passenger. The bags are fitted into 11 different
models of car and the recall constitutes the biggest in
US history. It follows a
string of other recalls, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota
and Honda. The faulty airbags have been
linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.
* recall = 회수하다; 기억해 내다/ fitted = ~에 맞춰 넣은, ~에 장착된/ admit
= 인정(시인)하다/ defective = 결함이 있는/ thus = 따라서, 그러므로/ on impact = 충격을 받으면/ shard(or
sherd) = (유리, 금속 등의) 조각/ propel = 나아가다/ constitute = ~이 되는 것으로 여겨지다/ a string of
~ = 여러 개의/ faulty = 흠(결함)이 있는, 불와전한
The US
Department for Transportation welcomed the airbag recall. A spokesman said:
"Today is a major step
forward for public safety. The department... is taking the
proactive
steps necessary to ensure that defective
inflators
are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks
are addressed first." Meanwhile, Takata CEO Shigehisa Takada said: "We are
pleased to have reached this agreement... which represents a clear path
forward."
The company will obviously take a huge financial hit.
The recall will cost the company and its customers up to $5 billion. Despite
this, Mr Takada said he expects the company will still be able to make a profit
this year.
* a step toward ~ = ~를 향한 조치/
proactive = 사전 대비의, 예방의/ ensure = 반드시 ~하게 하다, 보장하다/ inflator = 팽창기/ forward =
(좋은 결과를 향하여) 앞으로/ take a hit = 타격을 입다
Record airbag recall - WTS.mp3