A bus company is warning drivers to not call passengers `babe` in a bid to avoid lawsuits from offended women.
英國一家公交公司提醒司機，不要稱呼乘客「親」，以防認為受辱的女性起訴。
Brighton & Hove Buses posted warnings to drivers in its head offices after a complaint from a woman who said she felt insulted by being called `babe` when she boarded a bus.
布賴頓和霍夫公交公司總部近日貼出了這則警告通知。事情的起因是公司接到一名女乘客投訴，稱某次上車時，司機稱呼她「親」，她當時感覺受到了侮辱。
The company also warned drivers they could face the sack if they call passengers `love` or `darling`.
該公司還警告司機，如果對女乘客使用「親」這類詞彙，司機將面臨被炒魷魚的風險。
One employee, who did not want to be named, said: `It`s just the height of political correctness. The drivers know how to best speak to customers.
一名不願意透露姓名的司機說：「這樣做實在是『過頭了』。司機們知道該怎麼稱呼乘客最好。」
`People don`t want their drivers to be robots. What is the world coming to when you can`t have a bit of friendly banter with passengers?`
「人們不會希望司機都像機器人一樣。如果和乘客之間不能說笑，世界將會變得多麼冷冰冰啊。」
The sign reads: `Please can drivers be aware that some of our customers may take offence at having terms such as "love", "darling" and "babe" directed towards them.
通知寫道：「請司機注意，有些乘客認為被直呼『親愛的』、『寶貝』、『親』是受到了侮辱。」
`This can be seen by some as being a sexist comment, as a recent complaint has highlighted.`
「這對有些人來說有性意味，就像最近的一起投訴提到的那樣。」
Managing director Roger French said: `A lady complained to us that she thought the language used by a driver was demeaning to her.
總經理羅傑·弗蘭齊說：「有位女士向我們投訴，她認為司機使用這樣的語言對她是種侮辱。」
`We take a lot of customer feedback so we thought we would pass this on. The drivers will understand and take it in good spirit.`
「我們接到了很多顧客反饋，所以我們覺得應該這樣做。司機們會理解，並且愉快地接受。」