If
countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private
cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel.
In what extent do you agree or disagree? Write in no less than 250 words and
give relevant examples from your own experiences
 |
| Ielts Essay - If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel |
Taxing personal four wheelers and funding
subsidized rail travel from the revenues grossed from such levies, to keep a
check on the traffic chaos, has emerged as a potent solution. Despite many lobbying
for such a policy, there are voices of dissent.
Imposing higher taxes on the car ownership seems
to be the only way of dissuading use of personal automobiles. If car users are
made to shell out charges, it would become nearly impossible for many to bear
the cost of owning a vehicle, which would eventually cause disenchantment from
possessing one; thus helping reduce burden on the roads and alleviating congestion.
Moreover, it is often argued, when every citizen
is paying taxes to the state, why should the majority suffer for the sake of a
minority interest and face jams. Extra levies on personal cars could even out
the things. Any extra revenue generated could
help authorities address concerns of major part of populace, and lay subsidized
or free
public transport network the disposal of people. Such a move could also act
a stimulus for the ones having their personal vehicles, to use public
transport.
However, there are those who term this idea as
ludicrous. Offering subsidized railway services at the cost of four wheelers may
seem to be a good alternative, but it is surely impractical since trains cannot
cater to all the areas effectively. This would only put those, who cannot
access train services conveniently, at the receiving end since individuals, with
no alternative but cars to their satisfy their commuting requirements, would be
overburdened by costs of commuting, and heavy levies on automobiles.
Henceforth, notwithstanding popular belief of
taxing personal vehicles to subsidize rail travel, I have all the reasons to
believe that such policy would fetch little success.
