Transport

Traffic problems

Traffic congestion is caused by commuters travelling to work

Most people live in the suburbs outside city centre

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 lands 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