PROBLEMS CREATED BY TRAFFIC

Big metropolises have always attracted people and they continue to do so thanks to the quality of life and standard of living they offer. Big cities are business centers as well as providing the best services to the local population but cities aren’t a paradise; there are plenty of downsides of life in urban areas and one of the major ones is traffic. The grater the number of people living in an area, the greater the need for transportation; hence, traffic has become a source of concern in all big cities. Traffic can affect our quality of life in two ways: physically and psychologically.

The direct physical effects of traffic are closely linked to the chemicals in the exhaust fumes. Since petrol is used as fuel in cars, heavy metals such as lead, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and the like are emitted freely in to the atmosphere directly impacting pedestrians. Lead for example impairs intelligence and is especially dangerous for children; this is in addition to the fact that it causes cancer. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming; the list is endless. The solution is not to abolish cars but to change the type of fuel they use: this could be unleaded fuel, methanol or electricity for example. The second solution is to dissuade people from driving and getting them to favor public transport, which can be possible by improving the quality of public transportation: fast trains like Japan’s bullet train, trams, the underground and boats or ferries. These are fast, efficient and attractive. In short, the physical effects of traffic can be minimized with a little effort and determination.

Many people only consider pollution when they think of traffic but there are some equally disturbing psychological effects as well. The first one that comes to mind is noise. Everyone yearns for peace and quiet describing an ideal vacation as one where there is only the sound of the sea or birds. People who dream of such a life find the noise created by traffic unbearable. The solution is modern forms of transportation which make the minimum of noise. Sitting around in traffic and wishing you could fly creates enormous stress which can lead to a host of unpleasant diseases and is therefore to be avoided. Again the solution is not to sit around in traffic but to travel in modern trains or trams for example where it is possible to work, read or listen to music. A commuter who is able to sit and answer his emails on his tablet on a train is not going to complain about the journey. In short, the municipality can save on health costs by putting some thought into how to address the problems caused by traffic.

To sum up, traffic is a natural consequence of living in a city but it can be reduced with an innovative approach and some investment. Both the form of mass transit and the fuel used need to be reconsidered. This is a worthwhile investment as people will be happier and better adjusted, which will in turn impact their personal life and the work they do.