南豪州政府が「みだらな言葉使用道路標識」が合法性を維持

A controversial South Australian road safety sign.
「みだらな言葉と二重の意味のある道路標識が一部の市民の感情を害しても社会全体に高く評価されたり、交通安全につながるから合法だ」と南オーストラリア政府がこの頃判断を下した、と豪ニュースサイトnews.com.auが報道した。
 同州と隣のビクトリア州をつながるハイウェイに使われている交通安全用道路標識3種類はみだらな言葉と二重の意味の表現を使って同道路に運転しているドライバーに交通安全を訴えている。
 しかし、それに対して同州議会無所属議員ボブ・サッチ氏によると「標識が感情を害する」と州政府に陳情した。
South Australia’s controversial, but legal and effective, road safety signs.
 が、同州交通安全大臣ジェニファー・ランカイン氏は「苦情に理解できてものの、言葉が主観的なものであり社会風習に違反しないし、例え若干無責任な言葉づかいであっても交通案の効果を考えれば使い続けるしか選択がない」と苦情を却下した。
 ランカイン氏によると同標識が使用開始したからシートベルト着用違反が9%減少、飲酒運転が5%ダウン、スピード違反件数も15%下がった。
 標識は「cock(雄鶏)かwanker(anchor< いかり>にWをつける)またはknob(ノブ)のように運転するな!」に訳出できる。いずれの言葉が「バカ野郎」と別意味がある。 South Australian Government rejects complaints about ‘offensive’ road safety signs

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