Modern Developments in Transport: Road transport

Google’s Self-driving car. Image credit abclocal.go.com

• With technology advancement, increase in human population and growth in national, regional and international trade, there has been tremendous improvements in all modes of transport for good and people.
• The main aims of these improvements are to increase speed, efficiency, safety and comfort.
• These developments differ between developed and developing countries.

Road transport

• In developed countries, large 6 to 8 lane highways are being constructed to link major urban settlements for example the London to Merseyside motorway, with very elaborate interchange to other towns built along the way.
• Road surfaces are smoothed, with traffic signals working efficiently and road signs placed at convenient points.
• Modern buses with air-conditioning, music and videos transport people daily.
• Each route has well-schedule timetable and number of buses allocated to it.
• Where buses are not enough then taxis can help passenger movement.
• For private cars, more luxurious saloon vehicles with power steering and locking devices have been produced by assembly lines to provide comfort and safety to drivers.
• Tyres being manufactured can withstand great speeds and pressure changes without bursting.
• In urban areas, special parking lots have been established for the urban commuter, complete with security for the cars.
• On heavy vehicles, containerization is the main development which has taken place.
• A container is a large steel box which is lockable.
• Goods are placed inside these boxes which are then locked and loaded onto heavy vehicles.
• The supplier locks and retains one key while the buyer has the other key to unlock the container when it arrives.
• The driver simply transports, without even knowing the contents inside.
• Containerization has the advantage that goods are safe from both thieves and weather elements.
• Handling is easy and fast as the containers are loaded and unloaded mechanically using cranes.
• Damage is kept at a minimum and the container can be used for storage at depots.
• In developing countries, development of roads has meant building more roads and re-surfacing them.
• Older roads are widened and road signs and traffic signals are installed.
• More modern buses such as the Yutong are replacing the older versions such as the AVM.
• Commuter omnibuses are widely in use to transport passengers.
• Police highway patrols in speedy cars, monitor speeds and roadblocks account for unroad- worthy vehicles.
• All this is done for the safety and comfort of the travelling public.
• Bus terminals have shelters to protect travelers against weather elements.
• Battery operated vehicles such as those from Tesla
• Hybrid vehicles that save fuel
• Driver-less vehicles also known as self-driving cars that can drive themselves using Artificial Intelligence
• The use of phone Apps to hail, order and pay taxis for example Uber and Lyft

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page