Perth is a bustling metropolis of 1.5 million people, where the car dominates as the top commuting choice for its residents. According to the 2001 Census, about four in five Australians (82%) travel between work and home by car. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003). But given the rapid population boom in the city, the result of these choices has ultimately led to a grid-lock on the city’s roads during the daily rush hour.
Some startling statistics from the WA RAC reveal that speeds can be reduced to a crawl of 20 kilometres/hour in 100 kilometre/hour zones during rush hour. The Travel Time report looked at 21 key commuter routes – covering more than 500 kilometres of road, including the three freeways, seven highways and several major arterial links.
According to this report, the Mitchell Freeway performed the worst of all the freeways. Between Clarkson and the Perth city centre, motorists spent half their commute in congestion. In the morning peak, it took motorists leaving Clarkson an hour to travel to the city but an average of just 25 minutes to travel the same distance in the opposite direction.
With an extra one million vehicles predicted to be on WA roads by 2020, RAC head of advocacy Matt Brown notes that it is critical to increase investment in better public transport and more efficient roads.
And the social, economic and environmental costs need to be factored into the congestion dilemma. Congestion during commuting periods is a source of stress for drivers, which can lead to health problems, as well as contributing to higher levels of air pollution by idling cars in traffic grid-lock and decreased revenue for businesses when delivery vehicles are delayed.
A few of the most innovative solutions to this pressing social issue include making public transport more accessible and appealing to commuters; putting more responsibility onto employers to encourage their employees to car pool, cycle or use public transit; and finally, looking at implementing strategies to change behaviour and attitudes when it comes to driving.
Issues