Pros and cons

An efficient transport system is essential for economic development. Personal mobility for work, study and leisure is considered an essential facet of modern life. The integration of national markets, general economic growth and higher levels of income have all made transport a major growth sector.

Although the benefits of transport are unquestionable, they come at a high price. One of the main problems with transport is that the consumer only pays part of the cost, while society pays the rest through indirect effects, such as air pollution and road accidents, known as externalities.

Transport is frequently cited as having the largest environmental impact of any internal market. The building and maintenance of transport infrastructure is a significant cost in government spending. The high costs incurred by traffic accidents, the nuisances of noise, air pollution and energy, as well as natural resource consumption, must also be included among those externalities.

Emissions 

Land intrusion 

Environmental impacts of different means of transport   


No mode of motorised transport is environmentally friendly.

Some modes of transport, however, like railway and inland waterway, have lower environmental impacts than road and air.