DESPITE high certificate of entitlement (COE) prices and continual improvements to our road network, peak-hour traffic still slows to a crawl on busy expressways.
This shows that Singaporeans' desire to own cars remains unabated, which is not unusual since we have a large middle-class group with among the world's highest per capita income.
How can we satisfy this desire, yet work within the country's physical constraints?
In other First World countries like Japan, the United States and Australia, new cars are affordable and there is no COE system. Yet their peak-hour traffic conditions are better than Singapore's.
Clearly, the COE system has failed to substantially control the insatiable demand for cars.
Singaporeans have many transport options available. It helps if the public transport system works well and taxi fares are reasonable.
We should leave cars at home when we go to work, and use them after office hours and on weekends. Those who choose to drive to work should pay higher usage costs, but commercial vehicles should be excluded.
Global positioning systems and live feeds of the traffic condition could allow us to adjust our Electronic Road Pricing system depending on traffic conditions.
Driverless cars may even be possible if we can resolve traffic congestion. Only then can we call ourselves a "smart city".
Raymond Koh Bock Swi
This shows that Singaporeans' desire to own cars remains unabated, which is not unusual since we have a large middle-class group with among the world's highest per capita income.
How can we satisfy this desire, yet work within the country's physical constraints?
In other First World countries like Japan, the United States and Australia, new cars are affordable and there is no COE system. Yet their peak-hour traffic conditions are better than Singapore's.
Clearly, the COE system has failed to substantially control the insatiable demand for cars.
Singaporeans have many transport options available. It helps if the public transport system works well and taxi fares are reasonable.
We should leave cars at home when we go to work, and use them after office hours and on weekends. Those who choose to drive to work should pay higher usage costs, but commercial vehicles should be excluded.
Global positioning systems and live feeds of the traffic condition could allow us to adjust our Electronic Road Pricing system depending on traffic conditions.
Driverless cars may even be possible if we can resolve traffic congestion. Only then can we call ourselves a "smart city".
Raymond Koh Bock Swi
