OPINION: There are far too many cars on our roads

Unfortunately, it means there is only one solution and that has to be fewer cars; there just isn’t any alternative. Until we accept that and do something about it, our road problems will only remain.

The first step towards a solution has to be to recognise current owners will not stop using their cars, whatever enticements are dangled in front of them.

Forget expensive trams, monorail or hovercraft, our attention should instead be directed towards dissuading people who have yet to purchase a car, in other words look to making a gradual reduction in the future rather than a sudden drop tomorrow.

For example, we already accept the restriction of no overnight parking of heavy vehicles on our roads. So why not extend this to new car owners?

The result would be that any resident buying a car for the first time would have to have an off-road parking place.

It would mean that, in time, as the original ‘current car owners’ gradually give up driving or move out of the city, our roads would become less congested with parked cars.

A simple principle, but would it prove too complex to put into practice?

*This letter was sent to The News by Derek Dod of Brougham Road, Southsea