Automatic Crash Patrol, by Scott C. Holstad
It was like watching a slow developing trainwreck from overhead.
Wait, let me start over. Car crash.
As I drove down the highway at 70 mph, I saw a car pull out in front of me, then stop and freeze. The driver was staring at me, panicked, like she knew she was about to die. The impulse to stomp on the gas pedal startled me but a stronger survival instinct took over and I yanked the wheel left while slamming on the brakes. I imagined fear and gratitude from the other driver and wondered if we both now needed restrooms.
自动碰撞巡逻
就像在头顶上看一场缓慢发展的火车失事。
等等，让我重新说一遍。车祸
当我以每小时 70 英里的速度行驶在高速公路上时，我看到一辆车冲到我前面，然后停了下来，僵住了。司机惊慌失措地盯着我，好像她知道自己就要死了。猛踩油门的冲动吓了我一跳，但更强烈的求生本能占据了上风，我猛踩刹车的同时向左猛打方向盘。我想象着另一位司机的恐惧和感激，不知道我们现在是否都需要上厕所。
- patrol /pəˈtrəʊl/
the act of going to different parts of a building, an area, etc. to make sure that there is no trouble or crime巡逻；巡查
a group of soldiers, vehicles, etc. that patrol an area巡逻队；巡逻车队
to go around an area or a building at regular times to check that it is safe and that there is no trouble巡逻；巡查
- trainwreck /ˈtreɪn rek/
- an accident in which a train crashes into something else or comes off the track列车撞车事故；列车脱轨事故
- car crash /ˈkɑː kræʃ/
an accident in which a car hits something, for example another vehicle, usually causing damage and often killing or injuring the passengers撞车事故；车祸
(informal) a very unsuccessful event or situation that people often find interesting糗事；尴尬局面；糟糕境地
- pull out /ˈpʊl aʊt/
- (of a vehicle or its driver车辆或司机) to move away from the side of the road, etc.驶离路边；驶出
- stare /steə(r)/
- to look at somebody/something for a long time盯着看；凝视；注视
- panic /ˈpænɪk/
to suddenly feel frightened so that you cannot think clearly and you say or do something stupid, dangerous, etc.; to make somebody do this（使）惊慌，惊慌失措
I panicked when I saw smoke coming out of the engine.我看见发动机冒烟时，吓得手足无措。
- impulse /ˈɪmpʌls/
- impulse (to do something) a sudden strong wish or need to do something, without stopping to think about the results冲动；心血来潮；一时的念头
- stomp /stɒmp/
- adv./prep. to walk, dance, or move with heavy steps迈着重重的步子走（或跳舞、移动）
- pedal /ˈpedl/
- a flat bar on a machine such as a bicycle, car, etc. that you push down with your foot in order to make parts of the machine move or work（自行车、汽车等的）脚蹬子，踏板
- startled /ˈstɑːtld/
- slightly shocked or frightened because of a sudden surprise吓了一跳：由于突然的惊奇而略为震惊或害怕
- instinct /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
- a natural quality that makes people and animals tend to behave in a particular way using the knowledge and abilities that they were born with rather than thought or training本能；天性
- yank /jæŋk/
- to pull something/somebody hard, quickly and suddenly猛拉；猛拽
- slam /slæm/
- slam something + adv./prep. to put, push or throw something into a particular place or position with a lot of force用力一放；使劲一推；猛劲一摔
- brake /breɪk/
- a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle刹车；制动器；车闸
- fear /fɪə(r)/
- the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger or when a particular thing frightens you害怕；惧怕；担忧
- gratitude /ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/
- the feeling of being grateful and wanting to express your thanks感激之情；感谢
