A few weeks ago, local authorities in Paris resorted to a method that was not completely new to reduce traffic congestion suffocating the glamorous city. The idea, which is not totally new or innovative as I mentioned above, was to allow vehicles to operate on a rotational basis in the French capital and its suburbs.
Under this system, a motorist may use his car one day and let it rest the second day.
For instance, cars with singular numbers on their plates can use the streets on Mondays while those with double numbers may be driven on Tuesdays.
Paris has mobilized 750 additional traffic cops to implement the plan. Any motorist who violates this system will have to pay a fine equivalent to $25.
In addition to the traffic bottlenecks, Paris is also suffering from environmental pollution. This is another reason for alleviating the heavy traffic on the streets.
The crux of the matter here is that the vigilant administrations never stop making solutions. They will keep trying regardless of whether these solutions are highly successful or not.
A solution, like the one introduced by Paris, will oblige the people to resort to other means than using their cars on the prohibited days. They may also try to find solutions that may rid them altogether from using cars for the entire week.
In this case, the motorists will be saving time they spend caught in traffic and they will be saving the money they spend on filling their cars with fuel. They will also be sparing themselves the agony of frustration and exasperation they usually feel as a result of the traffic bottlenecks.
No doubt that there are ready-made solutions represented in using the public transport means that are abundant in France and other European countries for little fares.
Another possible solution is to seek the help of a friend who may give you a lift in his car. The next day you will have to pay this friend in kind and take him in your car to where he is going.
By so doing, the two friends will be reducing their gas bill by half and will also be reducing carbon emissions that are detrimental to the environment.
We in the Kingdom, especially in Riyadh and Jeddah, are in for the near launch of giant public transport projects costing billions of riyals. With these projects in sight, are we ready to give up using our own private cars and travel by buses or trains?
Are we ready to put an end to the mad consumption of fuel from our depleting oil resources that we waste on aimless driving?
Time may be ripe to resort to the practical plans as Paris had done to stop wasting fuel and also reduce environmental pollution. Frankly speaking, we cannot wait any longer to see a solution to the problem of traffic congestion and air pollution.
