More traffic may be doing more than clogging streets in England, Scotland and Wales, as a study linked rising vehicle traffic to higher perceived crime and weaker community guardianship

If we consider the impacts of congestion on busy city roads, there are certain thoughts that immediately come to mind. We picture a series of cars stuck in traffic at rush hour, clouds of exhaust from all those vehicles shrouding the midday sky, and the constant noise made by the running engines in what would otherwise be a quiet morning. In terms of urban planning, heavy vehicle traffic has always been considered only as an environmental problem or an inconvenience. The prevailing thought has always been that the busy road merely means bad planning and affects only our schedule and air quality.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!