In recent years, many countries focus on reducing the traffic on the road, for example, introducing the congestion tax on vehicl

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问题     In recent years, many countries focus on reducing the traffic on the road, for example, introducing the congestion tax on vehicles during rush hours. Do you think it is a positive or negative development? (2016-01-30)

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答案 Traffic continues to increase as people get more wealthy and able to afford their own transport. Many families have two, three or sometimes more cars, especially if they live in rural areas where public transport is not so good. As well as cars, increased global trade has led to more and more lorries on the road taking containers from ports inland. Using the Internet for shopping has led to more delivery vans taking goods to people’s houses. All this has led to a huge increase in the amount of pollution, especially from the exhausts of diesel fuelled vehicles. This pollution has been scientifically shown to be the cause of many illnesses, cancer (especially lung cancer), stunted growth in children, poor intelligence in children, earlier deaths.... The list is endless. Of course, road traffic pollution is not the only form of pollution that is causing problems, but because it affects everyone, mainly city dwellers, it must be dealt with. Governments have tried many measures. Congestion charges to discourage people taking their cars into the cities are one. Park and Ride schemes, where people park their car and take a bus into the city usually at less cost than a city car park, operate in many cities, especially historic cities with narrow streets. Charging people to park at work and encouraging car-sharing schemes all help. The key to success is to provide alternatives, such as improved public transport; perhaps developing trams or building new underground lines, better, faster and cheaper trains, cycle routes with incentives to buy bikes and the possibility of borrowing a bike such as, in London’s ’Boris bikes’, all help. All these measures must be positive, because pollution is such a serious problem. In the short term there are disadvantages. Too many cyclists are killed or injured on the road. Public transport outside big cities is expensive and not as reliable as it could be. People want the freedom to come and go as they please by car. Cars are a status symbol for some. Attitudes need to change so that people are more conscious of the need to stop pollution and are prepared to do something about it, such as walk or cycle or use public transport where possible. Local authorities and the government need to make it easier for the public to do this.

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