Six Ideas To Help You With Traffic Management

Managing traffic, especially in cities and populations with increased car usage, can help reduce traffic congestion in an area. Traffic congestion not only causes noise and air pollution but can also be a big factor of stress in one’s life and may cause accidents if not controlled well. Traffic management is also needed in order to enforce traffic laws and reduce fatalities. This article will discuss some tips to help manage traffic better and, hence, reduce their consequences.

Reinforce the Existing Traffic Rules

Before we implement new rules or ideas to manage traffic better, we should go back to the old rules that we have neglected to follow. Things such as illegal parking, waiting, and load/unloading are all acts that are against the law and create traffic congestion. They not only create unnecessary rush and crowding but also pose a danger to pedestrians. All these acts are a nuisance and can be a hindrance to others. Other violations such as driving above the speed limit, driving through restricted zones, crossing red lights, and driving on the wrong side of the road can also cause traffic congestion and lead to accidents. For example, you could likely be hit by another car coming from another lane if you cross a red light; this will also cause an unnecessary traffic jam. Traffic police can be posted on the roads to manage and enforce such rules. Enforcing the existing traffic laws is the first and key step in managing traffic – there will be no point in implementing new rules if the old ones aren’t being followed.

Promote Public Transportation

A big reason behind traffic congestion is the insurmountable number of cars being driven on the roads. Today, a car has become more of a need than a want; it has become almost impossible to get anywhere without one. Although cars provide the great benefit of transportation, with the majority of people owning at least one car, there are many cars being driven with not as much space to drive them. A good alternative to driving a personal car is to take public transportation. Vehicles such as busses and trains have the ability to transport more people in less space; it reduces the number of vehicles on the road, reducing traffic congestion. Besides these benefits, it is also better for the environment. The government and authorities should make an effort to promote public transportation and to improve the quality and quantity of services the public transportation system provides.

Manage Commercial Deliveries and Vehicles

A majority of the traffic congestion on roads is caused by commercial traffic. Massive delivery trucks transporting goods to and from factories take up much of the space on the roads, causing traffic congestion. These trucks also tend to drive slower as they hold heavy loads, further adding to the congestion they cause. Authorities should manage such transportation by allocating them a certain time when they are allowed to be on the roads. These deliveries should be allowed when there are fewer people on the road, such as late night or early morning. The reduction of such vehicles on the road helps to reduce traffic congestion and manage traffic better.

Road Pricing

Road pricing involves charging people to drive on certain roads. These are commonly paid at toll booths on highways and freeways. These days, even driving has become expensive; you have to pay for the car itself, fuel, insurance, and repairs; tolls become an added expense. Paying tolls can become expensive for an individual – over time, the money adds up to a huge amount – especially if you drive a lot and often. Charging tolls encourages people to carpool, where they can split the toll cost among each other, and the financial burden is reduced. Carpooling leads to fewer cars out on the road. This reduces traffic congestion, leading to better traffic management. Tolls can also be charged area and time-wise. Areas that see more traffic and individuals that drive during peak hours are charged a higher toll rate. This will encourage individuals to drive in less crowded parts of the road network or to drive at off-peak times. Tolls can even encourage individuals to switch to public transportation altogether as they find driving too expensive due to toll costs.

Reduce Driving Obstacles

The best way to manage traffic is to make sure that there are reduced obstacles that face drivers. Routes with constant turns or those that are less direct tend to cause more congestion than those with a straight path. When planning roads, authorities should try and plan one that has a straight route to a majority of areas. This leads to the long-term benefit of not having to put effort into managing traffic later on.

Ensuring Good Lighting

A way to reduce traffic congestion is to make sure roads and areas where people will be driving are well-lit. Good lighting helps drivers assess the roads ahead and gives them the ability to avoid creating congestion. For example, let’s say you are driving on a road with bad lighting; you keep driving ahead and soon reach a pothole. You find that your tire has gotten stuck, and now you have to wait for a tow truck to come to move your car. Until the tow truck comes, the cars behind you will have to wait; this creates congestion. If the road were well-lit, you would have been able to see the pothole and avoid it by moving your car a little to the side. Good lighting also helps to reduce the number of accidents that occur as drivers are able to gauge the road ahead. All these actions would help to decongest roads, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly, making it easier to manage. This not only increases safety and reduces accidents but also increases the capacity and efficiency of roads. Sources: www.smartertransport.uk and www.fourthplan.org