It is assumed that one of the most appropriate ways to keep traffic jams issues to a minimum is to levy higher tariff on petrol. While I understand the logic behind this suggestion, I still firmly disagree with it for several reasons.
Those who believe that high taxes can help the road to be less jammed. Some people may argue that tax hike on petrol seems to reduce the number of traffic consumers, especially the ones who have a preference for their own vehicles. This is mainly because it is generally agreed that most people have a tendency to be unwilling to spend their money on something which is much more expensive than usual. A case in point is the cost of gold in some South East Asian countries such as Vietnam. Consumers appear to spend less on buying gold since it has become more prohibitive. The noticeable problems of traffic congestion could be solved by addressing the same approach.
Nevertheless, I still oppose the aforementioned view for several reasons. Chief among these is the ineffectiveness in the long run. It is apparent that the revenue obtained from such scheme is indicated to be used for the maintenance and expansion of the roads which offers the transport participants with the opportunities to avoid heavy traffic. However, with regard to the long term, the number of people commuting on the streets would still increase considerably; therefore, the roads would continue to be congested and under no circumstances can the government provide enough space for people to use their own transports. Another argument worth mentioning is the inconvenience which we have to deal with if we use public transports in place of private ones just because we are not willing to allocate a large amount of money on petrol. Specifically, every person has their own timetable and time of work, so companies of public transports such as buses, subways cannot provide schedules of departure time which can suit everyone’s needs. Thus, that unrealistic solution will make people feel annoyed and then turn back to using private transports.
In conclusion, it is understandable why some may argue that taxing petrol at a higher rate will reduce traffic congestion. However, I cannot support such a view given the aforementioned reasons.