Speaking Test Part 3:

1. Has transport changed in your country in the last 20 years?

Transport has changed quite a lot in my country. Many new roads have been built and the government has invested in new trains and subway infrastructure too. Whereas in the past people used buses or motorbikes, these days people prefer to use the subway or drive their own car. In some ways it’s much easier to get around, but because a lot more people drive cars now, the traffic is heavier, there’s more congestion, and there are a lot more accidents due to reckless driving.

2. What can we do to improve road safety?

That’s a good question. As I mentioned, there are too many dangerous drivers, so I think there should be stricter penalties for breaking traffic rules, like speeding or jumping red lights. Right now, the traffic police are a lot more strict about drink-driving, so that’s good, but many people still ride motorbikes without helmets. We also have a problem with very old vehicles, especially trucks that aren’t roadworthy, and they can be dangerous, so perhaps we need more checks of old vehicles.

3. How could the roads be improved in your country?

I think the main thing is to build them better, using higher quality materials. It seems like roads don’t last very long and there are constant roadworks, which cause traffic jams and congestion. We could also build more tunnels and bridges so that traffic can move more easily. I’d also like to see more speed bumps in residential areas, so that speeding is less of a problem. Right now, I really worry about kids on the roads as too many people drive too fast.

4. Why do some people prefer driving a car to taking a train or bus?

Well, it’s often more convenient to get around in your own car. There’s no need to walk to a bus stop or train station and wait for the bus or train to arrive. What’s more, in a car you have more privacy and you won’t be disturbed by other people. If you have a family, it’s usually easier to travel by car too. You can give your kids a lift to school, and you don’t need to worry about their safety on the streets or on public transport.

5. What measures can be taken to reduce traffic jams in cities?

That's a good question. Perhaps one way to reduce traffic congestion is to allow more people to work from home. There are many jobs where people don’t really need to be in the office every day. By allowing people to work from home, they won’t need to commute, and there will be much less heavy traffic during rush hour. Another idea is to invest more in more efficient and comfortable trains. If more people used public transport, rather than their own car, there would be less problems with gridlock in city centres.

6. How do you think transport will change in the future?

I think the biggest change that will occur will be in cars. In the future, I’m sure that cars won’t require a human behind the wheel. Already many car companies are working on self-driving vehicles, so I don’t think it will be very long until every car manufacturer makes them. What’s more, because collisions and pile-ups are nearly always caused by human error, I reckon that these cars will make the roads much safer. Finally, I think we’ll see more electric vehicles, so there will be fewer problems with exhaust emissions and we’ll have cleaner air in our cities.