We owe it to ourselves and, indeed, to our future generations to build a better tomorrow. It is time to wake up and take action before it is too late
K.V CHANDRA MOULI
While car and two-wheeler ownership is rising in India, and has never fallen over time. The share of households owning cars and two-wheelers is higher in urban areas than in rural. The potential consequences of a significant increase in car ownership in India are dire. It would undoubtedly place severe strain on our roads.
The average speed of these vehicles is going down, leading to traffic stagnation, in turn, causing higher emissions and poorer air quality. The overwhelming number of cars in India has frequently been attributed to the terrible traffic congestion in cities. We did not have a congestion problem as long as two-wheelers were exploding in numbers.
The booming population, rapid urban expansion, and the increased earning potential have enhanced their purchasing power, have now elevated many from two-wheelers to cars, and they now drive alone. It is incredibly inefficient to sling a big 1300-1800 kg lump of rubber and metal for the transportation of a single person. Cars are the primary source of the traffic jams on our metropolitan streets.
In most situations, they just occupy four to six times as much room as a two-wheeler for one person travelling. Lazy, inconsiderate car owners driving cars in cities are putting stress on the system. This has resulted in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Riding alone in a ton of steel is not green; it adds to congestion, it is very expensive, and it is bad for health to spend hours like this. Cars are not nimble like two-wheelers, and they do not get out of the way easily. Many distracted drivers, talking on the phone, driving too slowly, or too insulated from the outside world, are a real problem on Indian city roads.
Traffic congestion caused by an excessive number of automobiles is quite costly to our economy. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road can have significant benefits, including decreased traffic congestion, which can improve the traffic flow so everyone can reach their destination faster, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance public health.
Some argue that we should just have fewer cars on the road, meaning that there should be fewer cars overall. However, there are two ways to create fewer cars: either fewer cars overall or smaller cars overall. Both contribute to the reduction of traffic. In order to get people out of their cars, alternative modes of transportation should be available. This is one of the reasons why Europe has such an extensive railway network. By avoiding driving, everyone who takes the train contributes to the reduction of traffic congestion.
Sadly, the appalling bus service is the only means of transport available. Even worse, the drivers seem to think it’s acceptable for the passengers to disembark in the midst of an intersection, a flyover, or between two lanes of wildly disorderly traffic, or even while the bus just slows down.
The majority of car users are not inclined to use this kind of public transportation. Furthermore, contrary to what some people seem to believe, they are not all travelling in cars by themselves to “show off.” These same individuals who drive cars when they are in Tokyo, or New York, or New Delhi, use public transportation. This is due to the fact that such public transport systems show greater consideration for time and safety. Therefore, the quality of the available options is the problem, not the drivers.
The increase in new private vehicles over the previous year is astounding. This indicates that we are moving in the incorrect direction. From the standpoint of a sustainable mobility solution, the approach to addressing the issue is to discourage the use of cars in addition to enhancing public transportation.
Things won’t work out until the government understands that this must be an integral strategy that is implemented concurrently with enhancing metro connectivity and other modes of public transport. It is time for the government to develop a comprehensive set of mandatory regulations that discourage car ownership and use while giving priority to enhancing the public transport system to make it more user-friendly and appealing.
Here are some Strategies to Reduce Vehicles on the Road:
Regulate the purchase of vehicles
The need for a car before purchase shall be examined holistically by the authorities. Cars are not meant for one. For example, a 5-seater car driven and occupied by less than 5 persons adds to traffic congestion. It would be totally prudent if four or even three people travelled in a car.
Certain disincentives are needed to prevent the unbridled increase in the number of cars on the roads. After all, there is a saturation limit on the traffic that the roads can bear and the length of roads that can be built in any city. It’s not a question of aspirations or the affordability of private vehicles for a few individuals. It’s for the common good of the community that there is an ideal mix of both in the right proportion.
The purchase of cars shall be discouraged by way of increasing expensive tolls on all roads, car registration fees, and increasing taxes on gasoline, imposing a congestion tax, as well as an exorbitant tax on miles driven for electric vehicles that is paid yearly when car registration is renewed. If we can somehow put toll collection points that automatically scan their FASTag IDs and make them pay for single-person usage, it would enormously help discourage them from doing this.
Promote Public Transportation
We should follow the Singaporean public transport model to limit the number of private vehicles on the road and promote sustainable growth in a city with limited land, with more emphasis on a robust public transport system. Its success is due to the result of comprehensive planning, significant government investment, and a focus on user experience.
By continuously evolving and adapting to the needs of its residents, Singapore has created an efficient, reliable, and sustainable public transport system that serves as a model for cities worldwide.
Encourage Carpooling and Ridesharing
Encouraging carpooling and ridesharing is a proven strategy to significantly reduce traffic congestion because it effectively decreases the number of individual vehicles on the road, leading to less overall traffic volume and fewer jams; essentially, more people sharing rides means fewer cars on the road, resulting in smoother commutes for everyone.
Adopt Flexible Work Arrangements
Adopting flexible work arrangements can significantly help reduce traffic jams by allowing employees to avoid peak commuting hours, potentially working from home, or adjusting their work schedules to travel during less congested times, thereby lessening the number of vehicles on the road during rush hour.
It is no secret that roads and infrastructure are crucial to a country`s growth and success. Alternatives like several elevated corridors, flyovers, and underground highways may offer short-term respite given the growing trend of private car ownership, but they will eventually be terrible, raising pollution and other adverse impacts. There is no feasible alternative to a multimodal transportation system that prioritises public transportation.
Investing in public transportation will not only reduce commuting costs for the common man, but it will also decrease the fuel bill of the country and solve traffic snarls. It is high time we dispelled the myth that personal transportation is the root cause of the problem.
To create a more sustainable future, cities urgently need to significantly enhance their public transportation system, making them vastly more accessible, reliable, and convenient, to discourage private car ownership and encourage people to choose public transit options instead, benefiting everyone in the community. We owe it to ourselves and, indeed, to our future generations to build a better tomorrow. It is time to wake up and take action before it is too late.
(The author is a BE in Mechanical Engineering, BOE, and ASME, and is a retired Deputy Director of Boilers in Mysuru)