According to the latest figures obtained from the Department for Transport, there are more than 35 million vehicles (cars and vans) that are taxed for use on Britains roads as of the third quarter in 2013. As you can imagine, when there are peak periods of traffic on our roads it can lead to chaotic and often stressful scenes such as in the photograph example above.
And with the population of the United Kingdom increasing each year and the likelihood of more and more new motorists driving on our roads in years to come, scenes like that can potentially become commonplace at virtually all times of the day and night!
So what would Britain be like if we didnt have any cars on our roads? Here is some interesting insight into such an alternative way of life, and how it would impact all people that live here.
The most obvious thought that one would conjure up is that there would be no traffic, at least none from any cars. Life would be similar in some ways to Victorian times, where the only things you are likely to find on the roads will be pedestrians, cyclists and perhaps the odd horse and cart!
Of course, one major downside is that car dealers such as GK Group and anyone else involved in the motor industry would either have to diversify into another industry or face going out of business!
An increased need for public transport
If we had no cars on our roads but could still benefit from todays technology, the government and private enterprises with a specific interest would need to build a public transport infrastructure that is many times improved over the existing system.
Because there are millions of people that live outside of cities and major towns, more railway systems would need to link all of the different systems together, and light rail systems such as trams would need to be established for travelling around the different areas of a town or city.
Considering the amount of people that live in Britain these days, you might find it commonplace to have underground railway systems in many major towns and cities, similar to what the cities of London and Glasgow have at the moment!
Significantly reduced CO2 emissions
Most of the cars on the roads tend to have medium to high carbon dioxide emissions which are obviously harmful to our planet. Because the only things that would have CO2 emissions would be power stations and railway trains, we as a nation could certainly achieve targets for reducing harmful carbon dioxide gases entering the atmosphere.
Lower levels of obesity
As with many other developed nations, the United Kingdom thrives on convenience. Because we would have to walk and cycle more than we do now, there would be lower levels of obesity and its related medical issues (such as diabetes and heart problems) that have to be dealt with by our fledgling national health service.
We would be encouraged to lead more active lives instead of having mostly sedentary ones.
Rapid development of alternative transport
Unfortunately, whilst oil reigns supreme in the world, development into green vehicles powered by alternative fuels will always be slow.
But in a society where cars powered by fossil fuels are banned, the motor industry and the government would have to take steps to ensure the rapid development of alternative methods of transportation, such as solar-powered transport pods!