BENEFITS OF ROAD TRANSPORT

Video of  motor vehicles  transporting people on the Osu-Labadi highway. video credit: Owusu  Bridgette

               Road transport is among the most important factors affecting the living conditions of people in the society. A proper road transport system has different components among which the roles of public transport facilities, highways and roads are prominent. Thus, a good road transport system assumes a special significance as it does not only impact on the overall quality of roads in a country but also influences greatly the economies associated with its construction and maintenance.

Motor vehicles transporting people to their various destinations on the Accra-Madina highway. picture credit: Owusu-Ansah Bridgette

               The impact of road transport  systems can therefore have both positive(benefits) and negative(challenges) effects on the environment and the economy as a whole. Narrowing our focus to the positive impact of improved road transport systems on our economy, there are many advantages associated with an improved and proper road networks and also public transport facilities. To begin with, road transport systems connects places very well. Unlike rail, water and air transport, roads can be built to very remote locations(rural areas/villages) as well as to busy urban areas(cities). Roads can also be built on steep slopes as well as over rivers and valleys. Something which will be pretty difficult and expensive for railways to do.. As a result of this, road transport provides a lot of reliability and hence its the most accessible compared to other forms of transport.

                Secondly, road transport provides door to door services.Goods from a seller or supplier's warehouse can be transported and delivered right at the door steps of buyers. Services such as this cannot be provided by the other forms of transport(rail, air and water). Here also, children can be transported right from their homes in a school bus to school and from school to their homes.Another advantage or benefit associated with road transport is that it is economical for the transport of goods and people over short distances. Fares charged for transporting people and goods through road transport systems are less compared to the other forms of transport systems. Again delays in transit of goods on account of loading and handling are avoided. Goods can be loaded directly into a road vehicle and transported straight to their place of destination. Charges for loading and unloading are therefore reduced due to direct transportation. Furthermore, road transport systems requires less capital quality. Road transport requires less capital investment as compared to the other modes f transport. Wages paid to drivers and other workers as well as capital spent on construction and maintenance of roads and vehicles are much lesser compared to the construction and maintenance of tracks along railway lines. Also, road vehicles such as trucks and cars cost comparatively less compared to to trains, ships and aeroplanes.

             

A truck transporting  goods to its destination. picture credit: Owusu-Ansah Bridgette

Road transport systems also provide flexible services. Road transport has a great advantage over other modes of transport in the sense that it offers more flexibility. Here there are no fixed schedules. Its routes and timings can be adjusted and changed to individual requirements without much inconvenience. Road transport can therefore operate anytime. Also road vehicles can be diverted to different routes in case of blockages or accidents, Thus road transport provides minimal risk of damage and is most suited in transporting delicate goods like chinaware and glassware. Goods that are likely to be damaged in the process of loading and unloading. If goods are also to be transported immediately or quickly, road transport systems are more reliable than the rail and water transport because of its rapid speed. The ability to own vehicles by individuals is also another benefit of road transport. Here, people can now afford to have their own road or motor vehicles and initiate their own road services to market their products without causing any delay.

                Finally, with all these benefits of road transport, there are certain negative aspects associated with it such as traffic jams and street hawking. Thinking about traffic jams on the road can be quite scary and sickening. On the brighter however, traffic jams can be beautiful just as the saying goes, "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder." By critical observation, anytime there are traffic jams on highways, the different colors of vehicles combine to create exciting color patterns, Some innovative artists take pictures of unusual beauty and beautiful paintings which they sell expensively to people. Hawkers are also happy anytime there are traffic jams on highways because that is when they make money selling to people in cars in traffic. Even though the hawking activity is very dangerous, it still puts money into their pockets. Hence from the above benefits, if a government invests more in  road transport systems, the quantity and quality of roads will increase as well as the potential for transport of goods. This will in turn result in the booming of the economy and thus higher income for the government.       

A beautiful scenery of traffic jam on the  Kwame Nkrumah circle road. picture credit: Owusu-Ansah bridgette.

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