Car drivers should be charged traffic congestion fees. But where and how the money so collected is used should be decided by the public, especially car drivers, says an article in Yangtze Evening News. Excerpt:

Guangzhou recently announced it would follow Singapore's example to collect congestion fees from every car driver in downtown areas, long plagued by traffic jams.

But congestion fees should not only ease traffic jams, but also regulate the functioning of the economy. Some people who used to drive their cars freely will stop using them to avoid paying extra money.

The public is paying great attention to where and how the money will be used.

A city can have tens of thousands or even millions of cars. Suppose a car owner pays 2 yuan a day as congestion fees, the total amount could reach millions of yuan, which is not included in the government's financial budget. So the way it is used has to be transparent.

Since the money will come from car drivers and not from the government's financial revenue, the government should solicit public opinion before deciding where and how to use it.

The government should make public the collection method and use of the money, too, to clear car drivers' doubts over any misuse or abuse of the amount.

(China Daily August 5, 2009)