Here is one suggestion that could help to bring down levels of petrol consumption – with staggered usage of petrol-consuming vehicles.
We could limit our use of petrol-consuming vehicles (other than motorcycles and three-wheelers) to alternate days of the week. For example, vehicles with registration numbers whose numerals add up to an “even” figure could be allowed to travel on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while vehicles with “odd” numbers could be allotted Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, all vehicles would be allowed to get on the road.
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| Queuing up for petrol during a shortage |
A scheme like this would save on petrol, and also help to ease traffic congestion.
Given sufficient notice from the Traffic Police and relevant authorities, owners of petrol-consuming vehicles can make arrangements to use alternative transport on days they keep their own vehicles in the garage. On these three days of the week, they can use public transport, taxis that run on diesel and three-wheelers.
Here is an interesting example of an energy-saving initiative in an Asian country.
The authorities in Indonesia declared June 29 a “car free day” for downtown Jakarta, the country’s capital. The concept went down well with the public, and the authorities were pleased with the result and, it is understood, that in future the last Sunday of each month will be a “car-free day.”
I suggest that our traffic authorities try this scheme for two weeks, and get feedback from the pubic and the petrol stations. If it proves effective in saving petrol (a barrel of crude is now touching US$143), the scheme should be implemented over the long term.
In a situation such as this, we have to be innovative.
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