Reading - Part 3

Traffic congestion affects people throughout the world. Traffic jams cause smog in dozens of cities across both the developed and developing world. In the US, commuters spend an average of a full working week each year sitting in traffic jams. Although alternative transport exists, most people still prefer to use their cars because of comfort and convenience.

One method used to reduce congestion is congestion pricing, where drivers pay to enter certain parts of a city at specific times. In theory, if the fee is high enough, some drivers will cancel trips or choose public transport. Cities such as Singapore, London, and Stockholm have reduced traffic in city centres using this method.

Another way to reduce traffic is for employers to introduce flexible working hours. This allows workers to travel outside peak times. Some employers also encourage staff to work from home, which helps reduce the number of cars on the road.

Some planners believe the solution is to build more roads and bypasses to reduce congestion. However, this approach often fails because new roads encourage more people to drive, which quickly fills the extra space.

Other planners argue that governments are not doing enough to support public transport. In the United States, far more money is spent on roads than on public transport, even though better public transport would benefit both people and the environment.