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(2) More vehicles are required to do the same job. For example, slower traffic meansthat a wholesale delivery van can service less shops in a day; therefore, to deliverthe same number of goods would require the distributor to invest in a largervehicle fleet.(3) Time costs money, whether this is directly in the wages of goods vehicle, busand taxi drivers, or in the lost time of passengers; school children, housewivesor business executives; caught in traffic jams. Also, congested traffic conditionsmean that even more time has to be allowed for journeys to allow for the greateruncertainty of travel, further wasting valuable time.9.2.3 Given that congestion increases transport costs, the question still remains as to whyGovernment should interfere with free choice of transport and attempt to managethe growth of transport demand. Can it not be said that traffic finds its own level,with a workable equilibrium being reached between congestion levels and additionaltransport demands? The answer is that a working equilibrium will be reached butthat would be extremely inefficient.9.2.4 The decision to make a journey in congested traffic conditions is usually made in thefull knowledge of slow traffic speeds and the likelihood of encountering trafficqueues. Despite this, the journey is made because the costs to the traveller in termsof fuel expenses and the time involved, while higher than costs in uncongestedconditions, are still acceptable. While the decision to make the journey undercongested conditions cannot be disputed from the point of the traveller, a problemarises because each additional journey on the road system not only incurs costs of itsown but also imposes additional costs on other road users by slowing down theirtravel speeds. In congested traffic conditions, the costs imposed on others faroutweigh the costs incurred by the new traveller. This results in deterioratingefficiency; in particular, essential users who have to use the road system are impededby more marginal users who could travel by some other means.9.2.5 Road public transport services are particularly badly affected by traffic congestion.For example, consider the impact of congestion on buses, which can be clearlyidentified as essential road users. Slower running speeds require more vehicles tomaintain a service frequency; if these vehicles are not provided service deterioratesbut, if they are provided, they must be paid for and this translates into higher fares.Either way, a drop in patronage can be expected which triggers further increases infares since costs must now be shared among fewer passengers. This in turn leads tofurther drops in patronage.9.2.6 To illustrate the impact of congestion on road public transport, estimates arepresented below of Hong Kong bus operations under two conditions of trafficcongestion in 2001:LowHighCongestion 1 Congestion 2Daily operating kilometres 602 000 602 000Daily operating hours 42 000 55 700Average speed (km/h) 14.3 10.8Number of buses required 4120 61601 With recommended highway programme and policies2 With only committed highways and no change in policies9.2.7 Hence with a reduction in average operating speeds of 3.5 km/h, operating hoursincrease by one third and the number of buses required to operate the samefrequency services increases by one half. This would imply a fare rise of perhaps 30%to cover increased costs and demonstrates quite clearly the devastating impact of170