The primary solution to the ever-increasing problems of traffic and pollution resides in hiking the price of the most commonly used fuel, petrol. However, I am of the view that this might not be the best of dealing with these issues on account of the ineffectiveness and potentially damaging side effects of this step.
A good reason to hold this view is that the people who support increasing the price of petrol forget that it will do little to curb the rapid industrialization process and booming car numbers, responsible for the rising pollution and traffic woes respectively. In case such a measure is taken, cars would simply switch to another fuel, such as natural gas and as for industries, most of them don’t use petrol as a basic fuel. Hence, traffic and pollution issues would not be significantly affected by raising the price of petrol.
Another point to consider is that problems associated with rising petrol prices are wide-ranging and damaging for the common man. Once petrol’s value goes up, so will the cost of petroleum products, which practically includes most of the things used in the daily life of an average person. As a result, daily living expenses of the average person will skyrocket. Therefore, instead of pollution and traffic, the common man will be affected the most.
Nevertheless, several alternatives can be employed to alleviate pollution and traffic problems. To begin with, laws should be introduced and strictly implemented to regulate industrial waste products; this would really limit the pollution industries would cause. Finally, improving the transport infrastructure as well as a subways and bus network, working in tandem, would markedly lessen traffic problems.
To conclude, an increase in the price of petrol is a reckless move which, apart from hurting an average individual, would not lessen the traffic and pollution problem. These issues are better solved by steps such as regulation of industry through the legislature and better transport infrastructure.