Traffic Jams (Part 3--IELTS Speaking)

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Traffic Jam (Part 3--IELTS Speaking)

Click here for Sample Answer to Part 2/Cue Card Question about 'Being Stuck in a Traffic Jam'

Question:

What are the main causes of traffic jams?

Sample Answer 1:

There is rush hour, especially when people are going to or coming back from their workplaces. That's the time of peak traffic--the time when the traffic on the roads is at its highest.

Other than that, a lot of people do not really care about the other people on the road. They just wanna reach their destination as fast as possible and that leads to a lot of hassle. Because they ignore the traffic laws; they ignore the other cars, and the other vehicles on the road.
All of this results in chaotic traffic and therefore, traffic congestion.

Sample Answer 2:

I think lack of proper driving/traffic sense is the primary cause of traffic congestion these days.

And also this thing about needing to be the first. So, no one seems to have the patience to wait.

Then, it may depend on the weather as well. For example, during rainy days, water logging occurs, as a result of which traffic slows down.

Sample Answer 3 (What to do if you don't have an answer; give reason(s) why you don't have an answer. This will make a good enough answer on its own and also give you thinking time to come up with something to say):

Actually, I usually use public transport. I don't drive. So, it's difficult for me to come up with reasons for traffic jams. The city I live in is actually notorious for its traffic jams. Fortunately, however, I hardly ever encounter them myself. It's a rare thing for me to be travelling in my own car and getting stuck/held up in a jam.
However, I guess, one major reason is that there are too many cars on the roads.

Noteworthy words and phrases from the above answer(s):

• Rush hour: the time during each day when traffic is at its heaviest
• Peak hours: the busiest hours (e.g., traffic)
• Peak traffic: traffic at the busiest time
• Hassle: irritating inconvenience
• Traffic congestion: traffic jam (there is a slight difference between these two--a jam is worse than congestion)
• Primary cause: Main reason
• Water-logging: filled or flooded with water (due to excessive rain or poor drainage system)
  
• Notorious: famous for some bad quality
  
• Encounter: meet; experience; come across
  
• Rarely: Not often; very less in frequency
  
• To come up with something: to produce or think of something

Question:

How can traffic jams be prevented?

Sample Answer:

I guess office hours cannot be changed because it is what it is. But the driving sense of people can be improved by implementing rules more strictly.

Ensuring traffic police personnel are well-trained to manage peak hour traffic and the unruly drivers would also help, I am sure.

I think traffic jams cannot be completely prevented or eliminated but they can certainly be reduced to a certain extent--by investing in good public transport and encouraging/motivating the public to use public transport.

Noteworthy words and phrases from the above answer(s):

• It is what it is: an expression/saying to convey that things cannot be changed and must just be expected (if one uses well-known expressions correctly, it can help score a better band)
• Driving/road sense: the sense to drive safely
• Implement: enforce
• Unruly: undisciplined

Question:

How can the general public be motivated to use public transport on a regular basis?

Sample Answer:

I think rising petrol and diesel prices are doing this job on its own. Also, if we have good connectivity through public transport and we have some discounts for regular commuters, it'd encourage more and more people to shun private vehicles.

Noteworthy words and phrases from the above answer(s):

• Is doing the job on its own
• Good connectivity
• Regular commuters
• Shun

Question 4:

When do traffic jams usually occur in your city?

Sample Answer:

As I mentioned before, these jams occur especially during peak hours when office-goers are commuting. So, that would usually be between about 8 and 10 in the morning and 5 and 7 in the evening. 

And then there are the festivals. Usually, traffic goes really crazy during the festival season. Like, ...... (name a festival) is just around the corner--hardly a month away and a slight build-up of traffic can already be observed around markets, etc. And it is just going to get worse.

Noteworthy words and phrases from the above answer:

• Peak hours: the busiest hours (e.g., traffic)
• Office-goers
• Commuting
• Festival/holiday season: the period leading up to and including important festivals
• To go crazy: to become out of control
• Just around the corner: very near
• a build-up of something: something becoming bigger gradually

Question:

Do you think traffic congestion will ease in the future or will it worsen?

Sample Answer 1:

Considering the current scenario--you know, the road infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the increasing number of vehicles and the public transport is nowhere close to meeting the demands of daily commuters and other travellers, I don’t see there being any improvement in the near future.

Sample Answer 2:

I don't see it easing at all in the near future for the simple reason that a lot needs to be done but it is obvious that the authorities are not doing their job properly. And cars are increasing by the day even though climate change is at its worst right now and there are jams everywhere. All of us know we shouldn't be using private vehicles so much but we are.

Sample Answer 3:

Well, I think that with time it is going to become better. I see positive changes all around me--there are expressways being planned, there are flyovers being constructed, there is a lot of improvement in public transport in big cities, and the metro network is ever-expanding. So, I'm sure that there are better things to come and traffic-wise things will take a turn for the better soon.

Question:

How can people spend their time constructively when they are in a traffic jam?

Sample Answer:

Well, it depends on whether one is driving the vehicle or not.

If a person is driving, they can listen to good music or even listen to audiobooks. Or if their phone is connected via Bluetooth, they can even make phone calls.

However, if a person is not driving, there are tons of things that he/she can do. Now that things are online, people can just carry on doing their work – make calls, have online meetings, etc.

Children can do their own thing if they are carrying some toys with them.

And actually, it could be a great way for families to talk and play some car games may be.

But it would certainly require a person to be in the right frame of mind. Usually being stuck in a jam makes a person so frustrated and irritated that they don’t use this time in a constructive manner.

Question:

How can technology help in reducing traffic jams?

Sample Answer 1:

As with everything else around us, technology, if used correctly, can certainly help in tackling traffic issues too. One way, I think, is to have all the traffic signals at the busy junctions connected to a network so that they change according to how much traffic is there. For example, if a traffic jam is starting in a direction, the signal in that direction can be green for longer.

Sample Answer 2 (What to do if you can't think of an answer. Don't stay quiet. Don't panic. Keep in mind that the speaking test is to test your language skills and not your knowledge):

Well… off the top of my head, I can't think of anything right now. I guess, technology does help in building better roads, etc. But other than that I can't think of how else it can help.

Question:

Are there any apps or websites which can help in reducing traffic jams?

Sample Answer 1:

Oh yes. There are apps on which you can check when the traffic is highest in which areas. So, one can avoid those. This helps save time and also, controls the amount of traffic in that area.

A person would choose to go there at that time only if it is absolutely necessary.

Then there are e-maps. I myself use google maps all the time to check which route to take. If there is a jam building up on one route, it suggests an alternative route.

I've even heard of apps that keep track of the potholes on the roads. Sometimes, it seems the sky is truly the limit when it comes to technology. It's truly mind-boggling.

Sample Answer 2:

Well… off the top of my head, I can't think of anything right now. I am sure there must be a plethora of such apps, etc. but I’m not too tech-savvy. I don’t use too many apps and certainly do not stay updated on the latest technology.

Sample Answer 3:

Oh yes, there are a lot of apps. The one I can think of immediately is Google Maps. I use it on a regular basis. It tells you which route to take to reach a destination quickly.

Question:

Can driverless cars help in reducing traffic jams?

Sample Answer:

Not that I’m too well-versed with the technology of driverless cars, but I think that yes, they could help in reducing traffic jams. It will take care of all the chaos caused because of human error and impatience.

Sample Answer 2:

Oh yes. One, they won’t lose patience and manage jams coolly. So, no cases of road rage. Also, they would not break any rules. So, that would help too.

Sample Answer 3:

I don’t think so. I think that driverless cars would only work in places where every single road is wide enough and well-planned. I can’t imagine them navigating the narrow lanes in unplanned localities with the same élan that a seasoned human driver could.

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