Traffic Congestion and Fuel Wastage Due to Idling Vehicles at Crossroads

Abstract

This study carried out at among a very busy signal point of Surat city reveals that the congestion of two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers is indeed very high at peak traffic hours and the movement of vehicles is very slow. The vehicle problem is much accentuated by the bicycles and the pedestrians which results in a very slow traffic movement even when the traffic lights switch green, especially for the lanes from SMIMER to Sahara Darwaja and vice versa. The snail like pace of vehicles prompts the impatient vehicle owners to leave their engineers idling so as to zealously seize any opportunities for small advancements, leading to colossal fuel wastage and health hazards associated with exhaust fumes. The study points to the need for appropriate siting of overbridges and proper traffic management at such busy sites to help conserve precious petroleum imports and preserve our environment.