Chapter 1: the working context

An urgent situation

Irrespective of the exact final total of vehicles, however, we cannot emphasise too strongly the fact that vehicle numbers are likely to double within ten years, and to treble in a little over twenty years, and that this will be the bulk of the future increase. The problems of traffic are crowding in upon us with desperate urgency. It is sometimes maintained that these increases will not come about, that would-be owners of cars will be deterred by congestion and frustration, but we think this attitude would amount to a miscalculation of the mood of the country. The population appears as intent upon owning cars as the manufacturers are upon meeting the demand.