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(iii) Increased competition – An efficient transport system results to increase in the potential market for a given product or service, and so does competition. This makes a wider array of goods and services become available to consumers through competition and this reduces the costs, promote quality and innovation.
(iv) Increased land value - There is usually increase in the value of land which is adjacent to or serviced by good transport systems as a result of the utility it confers to many activities. The one related to residential activities may not enjoy this kind of increase land value. This is applicable to the land located near airports and highways, that are near noise and pollution sources, which usually has diminishing land value (Rodrigue, 2020).
Self-Assessment Exercise
What are the major waves of economic development?
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The development in air transport, has resulted to a smaller segment of the global population having a very high level of mobility for their business or leisure, while the greater majority of the population has little mobility.
(ii) Costs differences – There is usually higher costs for goods from those locations with low levels of accessibility because most of these goods are imported from long distances location. The higher transport costs that come up with this, inhibit the competitiveness of such locations and limit opportunities. The higher prices paid by consumers and industries impact on their welfare and competitiveness.
(iii) Congestion – This occurs when parts of the road network are used above the design capacity. It is the outcome of such a situation with its associated costs, delays and waste of energy. The distribution systems that rely upon on-time deliveries are particularly vulnerable to congestion and the resultant loss that may be incurred in such situation.
(iv) Accidents – There are usually cases of accident when using transport modes and infrastructure. The vehicles are never safe, they are sometime dangerous and have their own pain. Accidents normally occur as a result of human errors and various forms of physical failures such as mechanical or infrastructural. This can lead to injuries, damage and even deaths. The rate at which accidents occur is proportional to the intensity in the use of transport infrastructures. Accidents have important socio-economic impacts on the society which include healthcare, insurance, damage to property and the loss of life. The road is considered as the most dangerous medium for transportation, and accounted for about 90 percent of all transport accidents on the average. The country with the highest car accident death rates in the world is China. It has more than 110,000 fatalities per year (300 per day), due to the recent growth in vehicle ownership in the country ((Rodrigue, 2020).
The pollution from transport activities has a wide range of environmental consequences and it may be in any of the following form:
(a) Air quality – There is emission from the internal combustion engine of vehicles which serves as pollution to the air. This relates to acid rain and may be a potential threat for the global warming. The emission can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
(b) Noise – This serves as a major irritant from transportation, it has adverse effect on human health and welfare. Noise can take any of the following form: psychological disturbances, for examples: perturbations, displeasure, functional disturbances, for examples: sleep disorders, loss of work productivity, speech interference or physiological disturbances, for examples: health issues such as fatigue, and hearing damage. The noise and vibration from trains, trucks, and planes are major irritants to the people.
(c) Water quality - This can come from accidental and nominal runoff of pollutants from transport such as oil spills. They are sources of contamination for both surface water and groundwater.
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(d) Land take - Transport consumes large space when all of its supporting infrastructure and equipment are considered. The planning associated with these structures does not always consider aesthetic value as normally the case with construction of urban highways. These visual impacts that come up with the construction of the transport infrastructures have adverse consequences to the quality of life of nearby residents.
Self-Assessment Exercise
Discuss the negative impacts of transportation on individuals and the society 4.0 Conclusion
Transportation can bring about positive changes into the society if effectively managed. It led to the development of urban centers and help in closing the spatial gap between the producers and consumers. It therefore plays key role in the economic development of a region. There is going to be increase in economic opportunities where the transportation infrastructures are able to meet up with the mobility needs and ensure access to markets and resources. However, despite the positive impacts that transportation has on the individual and society it also has its own negative impacts. It is therefore, imperative that there should be effective management of transport infrastructures that will result to the economic development of the region, country or state.
5.0 Summary
The unit has basically given focus to the economic and socio- economic benefits of transportation to the individual and the society. The positive impacts or benefits of transportation have been discussed extensively in the unit. Also, the negative impacts have been highlighted. There can be economic development only if, transport infrastructures are effectively managed.
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
(a) Discuss the economic benefits of transportation.
(b) Enumerate the socio-economic benefits of transportation.
(c) Describe the key environmental consequences of pollution from transport activities.
(d) Examine the major cycles of economic development for transport systems.
(e) Deliberate on the economic importance of the transportation industry from macroeconomic and microeconomic perspective.
(f) How can multinational firms benefit from transport improvements?
(g) What is Mobility gap in relation to the negative impacts of transportation?
(h) Explain the direct and indirect impacts of transportation on the economy.
(i) What are those factors that make it difficult to determine the relationship between transportation and economic development?
(j) Differentiate between accidents and congestion in relation to the impacts of transportation on individual and society.
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7.0 References/Further Readings
Mathew, T.V. (2009). Role of transportation in society - Lecture notes in Transportation Systems Engineering. Accessed on 15th September 2020. Available at:
https://www.civil.iitb.ac.in/tvm/1100_LnTse/102_lnTse/plain/plain.html
Rodrigue, J. (2020), The Geography of Transport Systems. Fifth Edition. New York:
Routledge, 456 pages. ISBN 978-0-367-36463-2
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