This paper presents a case for new approaches to the problem of traffic congestion, and for reconsidering the priority given to solving it, especially where it might conflict with road safety, accessibility, and public preferences. The costs of congestion could be overestimated somewhat, and this may explain why many people give relatively low priority to congestion relief. Surveys in England show that over 80% of pedestrians, though only about 50% of drivers, think that pedestrians should be given more time to cross a road, even if traffic would have to wait longer. Speeding is consistently viewed as a more important problem than congestion. Drivers' and pedestrians' attitudes to congestion depend on their external environment and on the information that they have about traffic conditions. It is specially important to know the likely lengths and effects of delays due to congestion. General awareness of how road user behaviour affects congestion will enable more interventionist approaches to traffic management. There is a strong case for separate management of lorries and cars. People with reduced mobility tend to prefer increased accessibility to reduced congestion. Some congestion seems inevitable, and total road travel seems likely to rise. More research on congestion is needed.
Abstract