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Why do we use roads?
We use roads every day to get to places we need to go to, like school or the shops.
Why is it that more and more roads are being made?
People are working harder and longer, so more people can afford to buy cars. This means there are more cars on the roads.
Many people live in the country but work in the city. These people spend a lot of time travelling on the roads.
A lot of people drive to and from work each day, so there is a large number of cars on the roads at certain times of the day.
Public transport is not always easy to use in some areas if buses do not come very often.
Some people who own public transport try to make a lot of money and charge high fares. This makes people use more cars and less public transport.
Is this a good thing for the environment?
More roads being built means that:
Forests and wetlands are destroyed to make way for bitumen roads. Animals and plant species lose their homes because of this.
Smog is replacing clean air due to the burning of fossil fuels by cars.
It is dangerous for animals to walk on many busy roads and a lot of animals are killed by cars on roads.
How are humans affected by more roads being built?
Thousands of people are killed each year by cars on roads.
We can not smell or hear nature: instead, we are surrounded by air pollution.
Peace and quiet is replaced by traffic noise.
What can you do to help?
If you can walk, cycle or take public transport to school or the shops, then do so.
Encourage your friends and family to use public transport instead of driving cars. Remind your parents that they can relax on a bus or train, which they can’t do when they drive!
Remember?/p>
Cars may be more comfortable to travel in, but they do harm the environment and humans.