by Julie Dancer

Created on: July 18, 2007

Global warming is already here. Hundreds are dying across Europe this summer, as heat waves reach record heights - again. In Britain, tornadoes are threatened. In India, pre-monsoon weather reached heights of 49 Celsius, and killed 1,500 people.

Despite this, despite the elderly and the vulnerable dying every summer, some people complain about spending 8 a day for the privilege of driving their petrol-guzzling, carbon-spewing instruments of death.

It's not like you need to drive in London. There's plenty of buses, a world-famous underground railway, and you can pick up a second hand bicycle for cheap. So what's the deal?

These insane drivers, determined not to have their 'personal freedom' enroached upon, claim that road pricing is 'threatening democracy'. This is because a million selfish motorists voted against it. Well, here's the thing. Those million selfish motorists are affecting not just their own lives, but the lives of everyone around the world. How about we give those people in India a chance to comment? After all, they're the ones getting the short end of the stick.

Equally bizarrely, they claim it will squash the economy. In actuality, Transport 2000 published a report demonstrating it would increase efficiency, and send freight currently transported by lorry on to train and boats. Even canals might see a much-needed upturn in commerce. How is this a bad thing?

Global warming has already killed more people than terrorism. We're happy enough to sign away our freedom in the name of security, but the merest hint of raising the price of driving brings all the motorists out in hives.

Get with it people. There are alternatives to driving, and the quicker you start using them, the cheaper they will be.

Learn more about this author, Julie Dancer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.