IELTS Speaking Part 1: Traffic questions and answers

In my city, the vast majority of commuters rely on the underground rail network because it is far more efficient than driving. Private cars are rarely used for the daily commute due to the exorbitant parking fees and the sheer density of morning congestion in the city centre.

The primary issue is gridlock during peak hours, particularly around the major arterial roads leading into the business district. It is incredibly frustrating how a short distance can take nearly an hour to cover, mainly because of the sheer volume of delivery lorries clogging the lanes each morning.

Well, the biggest impact is on my stress levels and overall productivity, as I often find myself running behind schedule. If I have an early meeting, I have to leave the house significantly earlier than necessary just to hedge against the risk of getting caught in a standstill.

I believe the most effective strategy would be to implement a congestion charge for private vehicles entering the urban core. By incentivising people to switch to cycling or public transport, we could drastically lower the number of cars on the road and improve local air quality simultaneously.