Traffic Problems
- Traffic congestion is caused by commuters travelling to work
- Most people live in the suburbs outside city center
- Commuters tend to travel at the same time of day
- They tend to travel alone
- Cars and road space are not used efficiently
- This causes traffic jams during the rush hour
Traffic Solutions
- In order to reduce traffic we should change our working habits
- The internet can now be used to connect people
- More people could work from home
- Meetings can be held as video conferences
- Workers could be given flexible timetables
- Another solution would be to tax drivers
- Workers should share their cars and travel together
- In London, for example, there is a congestion charge
- This helps to raise money for better public transport
- Public transport needs to be reliable and efficient
Positives of Public Transport
- We need to reduce our dependence on cars
- Parking a car can be extremely difficult in big cities
- Well-designed transport systems are comfortable and convenient
- Modern public transport can be fast and cheap
- Public transport can help to reduce pollution in cities
- Investment in buses and trains will ease traffic congestion
- Buses can be given special lanes to avoid traffic
Negatives of Public Transport
- Public transport if often slow and unreliable
- Metro systems and trains are often dirty and crowded
- People feel like sardines in a can
- Cars are much more comfortable
Road Safety
- Driving while tired or drunk is extremely dangerous
- Mobile phones can be a dangerous distraction for drivers
- They draw the driver’s attention away from the road
- The use of phones while driving has been banned in many countries
- Punishments are becoming stricter
- Television campaigns are used to remind people to drive safely
- Speed cameras have become more common
- Speed bumps are another form of traffic calming
- Many streets are designed with the aim of slowing traffic down
