IELTS Writing: Road system

As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on the road systems. Some people think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that the user should pay for the cost. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Nowadays, more and more people choose cars to travel around, and thus  a sheer volume of roads have been built to meet the demand. However, whether governments should pay for all of these costs remains a controversial issue. I agree with the view that it is the governments who are the most responsible for the fees.

Firstly, it is important to understand that where the governments’ fund come from. Obviously, all the governments are not taking part in manufacturing or circulation, so that they don’t directly make wealth at all. Therefore governments pay for all sorts of infrastructure projects with the public money that we all contribute.

Moreover, governments must shoulder the responsibilities to plan, build and maintain city infrastructures to all citizens. This is because it is the governments that are the most eligible to pool various social resources such as funds, manpower and legislation to do these things. Advanced roads system can bring people convenient transportation as well as encouraging investment and trades in the cities that will in long term bring in capital to promote the well-beings for people.

That is not to say that the car drivers are totally free of obligation as they are sometimes charged a small amount of money by high-way authorities that need fund to maintain the infrastructure facilities and encourage carpooling and less driving for eco-friendly purpose. But to be honest, charging should not be the main target of road system for governments.

In sum, only the governments have the means to collect funds from citizens to provide financial aid and implement the road system; meanwhile, it is still reasonable for them to raise money for maintenance or taxation. Only by doing so can we ensure that governments will give top priority to public welfare and basic human needs.