Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past 30 years that many cities in the world are now ‘one big traffic jam’. How true do you think this statement is? What measures can governments take to discourage people from using their cars?

It is true that the number of people having a

car

has increased exponentially in the

last

thirty years. While I completely agree with the view / opinion / argument that most metro cities have become ‘one big traffic jam’, there are many steps which governments can take to tackle

this

problem

. Traffic congestion is the most pressing issue that many cities across the world face today. Over the

last

few decades, the rate of

car

ownership has accelerated significantly, and if not controlled, it is likely to rise

further

. Admittedly, governments across the world have tried to resolve / fix

this

problem

by widening existing roads;

however

, they have not been able to match the pace of increasing

car

ownership.

Consequently

, the

problem

of congestion has escalated to

such

a level that in big cities, it affects not only business activities but

also

the physical and mental well-being of residents. Businesses incur loss because of the delay in moving their goods and manpower. Urban residents

also

suffer because of the constant noise and air pollution caused by frequent traffic jams. There are many measures that governments can initiate to contain

this

issue of the increasing number of cars on roads.

First

of all, governments can increase the financial burden of owning a

car

by imposing green tax on the sale of new cars and fuel. They are likely to face resistance from voters;

however

, they can certainly gather public support by running awareness campaigns.

Moreover

, they can invest more in public transport. If people find that travelling by bus or commuter train can save their money and time, they will certainly prefer them to private vehicles. In conclusion,

although

the most cities struggle with the issue of traffic congestion, authorities can alleviate

this

situation /

problem

by imposing carbon tax on private vehicles and improving public transport infrastructure.