Should We Ban Cars?

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Everyone apart from the most blinkered motorists must have noticed the growing problems caused by cars. But is the solution simply to ban them? It's hard to imagine life without cars, but the motivation for getting rid of them seems laudable. A car-free world would result in quieter and cleaner cities; in a reduction of respiratory disease; and in roughly 25% less carbon emissions being pumped into the atmosphere. And if more people switched to walking and cycling we could also see a reversal of the growth in obesity.

But is it that simple? Would banning cars really make a difference?

Some countries, such as Chile, routinely close schools when pollution levels reach a certain level. This is not so much to protect children from fumes, but a way of significantly reducing traffic by getting rid of the school run. Indeed, if you reduce traffic by just 15% in busy cities (the equivalent of leaving the car at home one day a week) it can significantly reduce congestion and allow traffic to flow freely.

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