The city Port-of-Spain is notoriously know for it's traffic conditions, the situation extends from North of Trinidad and extends all the way to the South on a bad day, it's no joking matter. "Traffic jam" or "Traffic congestion" is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times and increasing vehicular queueing. When traffic demand is great enough that the intersection between vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream, this results in some congestion. This often can lead to drivers becoming frustrated and engaging in road rage. I myself have been a victim of "Traffic congestion" on a daily basis and on most days, I feel very discouraged knowing that my journey to school is going to be long and strenuous.
According to The Wall Street Journal ("The hidden health effects of traffic jam", 2011), "The evidence so far is largely circumstantial but worrisome, neurochemist Annette Kirshner says: "There is real cause for concern."they added: "Children in areas affected by high levels of emissions, on average, scored more poorly on intelligence tests and were more prone to depression, anxiety and attention problems than children growing up in cleaner air." Putting empirical data on the physicological aspect aside, my beliefs is this excessive traffic is eroding the productivity and happiness of the society.
Children are not monsters. Having to face hours of traffic to get to school, have class and then face hours of traffic to get back home on time to do homework is the root of pupils demoralisation and parents alike, subsequently leading to frustration. Who wouldn't be angry if they had to do this everyday of their school life? I'm not saying this is the reason some children today behave in an unruly manner, but it contributes to it.
But are there any benefits that one may get from sitting in the traffic for so long? A related point comes from the venerable Brookings economist Anthony Downs in his book "Still Stuck in Traffic." He argues that bad traffic is a good sign for cities especially large cities and integral to how modern societies function. Tony makes the case that traffic congestion is an indicator of prosperity not because it shows the failure of the transportation syetem, but it shows the success of the economy. More people, doing more things, mean more people moving around.
According to Richard Arnott, author of the book entitles, "Alleviating Urban Traffic Congestion." states that, "Microscopic policies attack the problem at scale, and examines areas of urban transport policies that have been neglected by the macroscopic approach. These include downtown parking Policies, the encouragement of bicycling and "mulimode" ticket that charges cars entering the city center."
References
Arnott, R, Rave , T. and Schob, R. (2000). Alleviation Urban Congestion. United States: CESifo Book Series https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/alleviating-urban-traffic-congest
But are there any benefits that one may get from sitting in the traffic for so long? A related point comes from the venerable Brookings economist Anthony Downs in his book "Still Stuck in Traffic." He argues that bad traffic is a good sign for cities especially large cities and integral to how modern societies function. Tony makes the case that traffic congestion is an indicator of prosperity not because it shows the failure of the transportation syetem, but it shows the success of the economy. More people, doing more things, mean more people moving around.
According to Richard Arnott, author of the book entitles, "Alleviating Urban Traffic Congestion." states that, "Microscopic policies attack the problem at scale, and examines areas of urban transport policies that have been neglected by the macroscopic approach. These include downtown parking Policies, the encouragement of bicycling and "mulimode" ticket that charges cars entering the city center."
References
Arnott, R, Rave , T. and Schob, R. (2000). Alleviation Urban Congestion. United States: CESifo Book Series https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/alleviating-urban-traffic-congest
Puentes, Robert. " Rethinking urban traffic congestion to put
people first." Rethinking Metropolitan America, Metropolitan
Infrastructure Initiative. August 27, 2015. Web Accessed April 6, 2016.http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2015/08/27-urban-traffic-congestion-puente
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