Letter

Traffic congestion harms health

Amidst all the media noise criticising congestion charging in London, it is important for public health advocates to keep pointing out the tremendous potential this has for health. Traffic reduction can reduce noise and air pollution but also decreases community severance and challenges assumptions of the supremacy of cars on our roads. Planning that does not assume people use cars; greater priority for public transport; and a higher profile for physically active transport will reap great public health benefits.

Despite road tax and fuel tax, cars and lorries cost the country far more than owners pay in tax. The side effect of generating extra revenue for improvements for walking, cycling, and public transport is an additional benefit from congestion charging. Experience in Sheffield in the 1980s showed that reducing bus fares not only had social and health benefits but also saved money.

So let’s stop talking about investing’ in roads but ‘subsidising’ public transport.