The ambivalance underlying highway traffic management

The aim of the paper is to examine critically the policies which have been developed to manage and control highway traffic in urban areas in the U.K., in the belief that conclusions can be drawn which are of international significance. In particular, the paper explores the objectives underlying these policies and compares them with the outcome which has been observed. The underlying theme of the paper is that of ambivalence. It is shown that although many policies—for example those which promote both transit and car use—can be seen to be “pulling in opposite directions”, such ambivalence may be inevitable with an approach involving the use of generalised objectives. It is concluded that when objectives are counteractive, choices have to be made which will involve the subjugation of one or more objectives, otherwise it is likely that none of the objectives will be achieved.