CONGESTED ROADS (Solving the City's Traffic Woes)

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
 makes life a wonderful journey. 

            Traffic congestion can be a torture for road users, especially those who are running late for work or appointments. This causes stress and discomfort, and also contributes to greater noise pollution as impatient drivers honk to vent their spleen Some uncivilised road users yell and hurl insults at other drivers. Instead of keeping their cool, these road-rage drivers behave in a selfish, rude and aggressive way, and give no thought to the feeling of other people.  

            I feel that initiatives to ease traffic congestion are future-centric plans that will benefit the people and the country. For instance, Singapore's The Electronic Road Pricing System, which was implemented many years ago is an effective and empirical way to promote smooth traffic flow. Considering the cost and other factors, it may be nearly impossible to introduce the system immediately, but I hope that this will be done at some point. 

          Using public transport is a good way to avoid traffic congestion, but this option will not appeal to everybody. Nowadays, personal vehicle ownership has become very popular even among students. To these youths, using public transportation is old-fashioned and exhausting. Perhaps road users should consider carpooling instead. Through vehicle-sharing, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption as well as encourage camaraderie among friends and colleagues.    

            Encouraging cycling is a good way to prevent traffic congestion, but cyclists may suffer health problems as they are directly exposed to the city's air pollution. They are at a greater risk of sustaining serious injuries in accidents. Cyclists also have to cope with unpredictable weather events, including the equinox phenomenon that we are experiencing now.

            Traffic congestion is an issue that needs to be addressed smartly, effectively, and efficiently. Let's make a serious effort to improve our traffic system so that we can all reach our destinations without experiencing headache and heartache on the way.

Courtesy of New Sunday Times

3 May 2015