Problems

Most staff and students drive to the university, as fuel is cheap in Brunei and driving is much more convenient than using public transport. This results in traffic congestion in the university car parks and roads. The lack of parking spaces in the university results in students parking on the sides of roads which further slows the flow of traffic and increases congestion on the roads. The university authorities had to resort to clearing more land for car parking space by chopping down trees in the campus, which resulted in an increase in noise and air pollution and also contributed to the greenhouse effect as it allowed staff and students to continue to drive to the university.

Congestion at car parks and roadsides.

Possible solutions

Staff and students should be informed about the advantages of using a car-pooling system through leaflets, pamphlets, posters or publications in newspapers. A car-pooling system should be set up and staff and students encouraged to use it.

Actions taken

The writer surveyed the extent of the awareness of the university students and staff on traffic congestion and its consequences by designing a qustionnaire, asking students and staff to fill out this questionnaire, and carefully analysing the results. Leaflets were given out and posters were put up to inform staff and students on how they could make a difference by car-pooling. The writer further tried to encourage the staff and students to car-pool by putting together lists of people that were interested in car-pooling.

Posters made by the students to encourage car-pooling by increasing the awareness of the staff and students of the advantages of car-pooling.