Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

Some suggest that the optimal way of tackling unrelenting
traffic
and
pollution
issues
is higher gas
prices
.
Although
this
measure
can curb these
issues
to some extent, I do not agree that it is the most effective one.
Instead
, less controversial options
such
as raising public awareness and popularizing less polluting modes of
transportation
should be explored. Contrary to popular belief, raising the
petrol
price is not a panacea for
traffic
-related
problems
.
This
is because
this
measure
has a considerable economic cost to both individual consumers and the government. Expensive
petrol
prices
create a financial burden for commuters, escalating their daily commute fee,
as well as
drivers whose livelihood is directly correlated to gas
prices
. As
such
,
this
development would most likely drive many people into a financial predicament, causing public disapproval and outrage.
This
was clearly the case when gas
prices
ballooned in the US
due to
the country’s new energy policies. The government is at a disadvantage too from
this
change. The ensuing fall in demand in the
transportation
sector would hamper the economy, creating unemployment and economic setbacks.
In other words
,
this
measure
would set nations on the path to financial hardships and economic decline at a minimal advantage to the environment. Rather than up the price of
petrol
and create a whole new range of
problems
, I recommend that nations consider other viable ways of addressing
issues
pertaining to
traffic
. One
such
measure
would be educating the public on the implications of growing
transportation
use. To accomplish
this
, people should be shown social media posts and videos – the most frequently visited content online – depicting the environmental
issues
occurring
as a result
of vehicle emissions,
such
as air
pollution
and global warming. They should
also
be informed about ways in which
traffic
problems
like gridlocks and road rage can stunt their productivity and quality of life. Having been alerted to these
problems
, people feel naturally compelled to cut down on their transport use. Hailed as the future of
transportation
, electric vehicles can
also
play a part in the fight against
traffic
issues
. Running on electricity,
this
type of vehicle can help ease our dependence on fossil
fuel
Fix the agreement mistake
fuels
show examples
, alleviating
pollution
and global warming.
Besides
, because the new generation of electric cars will be self-steering, fewer
traffic
problems
caused by human error can be expected. In conclusion, increasing the price of
petrol
might seem the way to go to solve
traffic
problems
and
pollution
at a glance, but
this
solution has hidden economic costs, which are too consequential to be dismissed. The more practical measures would be raising public awareness of
traffic
-induced
problems
and accelerating the shift to electric vehicles.
Submitted by abdulaziz on

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coherence cohesion
Consider simplifying some of your sentences to avoid potential confusion. For instance, the sentence 'As such, this development would most likely drive many people into a financial predicament, causing public disapproval and outrage' could be broken into two sentences for clarity.
coherence cohesion
Although the introduction is strong, the conclusion could further emphasize and summarize your main points to leave a lasting impression.
task achievement
Ensure that the points you make are directly backed up by specific examples to strengthen your argument. For instance, when mentioning electric vehicles' benefits, specific statistics or case studies could be included.
coherence cohesion
The essay presents a clear and well-structured argument, making it easy to follow.
coherence cohesion
The introduction sets the stage well for the discussion and the conclusion effectively closes the argument.
task achievement
Relevant points are well-supported with logical reasoning, showcasing a good understanding of the topic.

Word Count

IELTS says that you should write a minimum of 250 words in writing task 2. If you go under word count you will lose marks in task response.

A very long essay will not give you a higher band score.

Aim for between 260 to 290 words in writing task 2. This will ensure a concise essay and will be realistic in terms of time management. You have only 40 minutes to write the essay and you need around 10 minutes of planning time, so you will not be able to write a long essay in 30 minutes.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • Discourage
  • Incentivize
  • Alternative energy
  • Public transportation
  • Lower-income
  • Carpool
  • Ride-sharing
  • Congestion
  • Urban planning
  • Pedestrian-friendly
  • Tax incentives
  • Electric and hybrid vehicles
  • Emissions standards
  • Cleaner vehicles
  • Congestion charges
  • Bicycle lanes
  • Sustainable
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