Making petrol fuel less affordable to private car owners is one of the ways which can be used to tackle the problem of growing traffic and pollution. Personally, I strongly disagree because it creates economic hardship, inelastic demand, and wealth disparity. Therefore, better public transport and eco-friendly technology are more effective ways to solve the problem of growing traffic and lower pollution.
Raising the price of petrol creates economic hardship, as higher fuel prices cause inflation by raising the cost of food, goods and public transport fares, which hurts low- and middle-income families the most. Additionally, inelastic demand is created: driving is a daily necessity for work, not a luxury choice, so people keep driving even when fuel prices are high. Furthermore, it promotes wealth disparity: wealthy people can easily afford higher fuel costs, so the policy reduces traffic for the economically vulnerable but not for wealthy motorists.
Therefore, more effective measures like better public transport can be put in place. Governments should build reliable, affordable, and fast bus and train networks so people naturally choose transit over private cars. For example, dedicated bus lanes should help commuter buses bypass traffic jams and make public commuting faster, more convenient, and more efficient. In addition, eco-friendly technology should be encouraged. Authorities should offer tax breaks and support for electric vehicles and hybrid cars, which help cut pollution directly at the source.
In conclusion, increasing the cost of petrol fuel is not an effective measure to solve the traffic and pollution problem. I disagree because it creates wealth disparity, economic hardship and inelastic demand. Consequently, improved public transport and eco-friendly technology can be explored to curb the traffic and pollution problem.