Solutions Paper

Solutions Paper
Steven Klein
University of Kentucky

Solutions Paper

Executive Summary
The topic that I chose for my Solutions Paper is to create an organization that addresses
the significant problems that correlate with modern transportation in todays society. I am going
to conduct research that explains how the problems that are a result of transportation hurts our
environment, and will find ways that can eradicate these problems, and also ways that I believe
will not work to eliminate the problems. The organization that I am going to create called
RightWay Transportation is going to address the many societal and environmental problems
that current transportation methods create, and with the help of the research conducted, to find
ways that can limit, or even eliminate these problems that are damaging the environment we live
in.
Introduction
Transportation in todays society is one of the most important innovations that has been
created. There are many different types of transportation today, and most of them are degrading
to the environment we live in and tot the people who live in it. By creating an organization that
will propose ways to eliminate the global transportation problems, I hope to demonstrate how
degrading current transportation methods are to the environment and to the citizens in America,
and how we can change these problems to protect our environment. In order to fund the nonprofit organization that I would create, I would accept donations and host events that bring in
money. Some examples of local events that I would plan are 5K runs or local parties. This will
then help my organization financially so that I could host events to propose the solutions on how
to fix the current transportation problems in our society. By doing this, I hope to raise awareness
of how transportation is hurting sustainability around the world because of the amount of
pollution put into the atmosphere as a direct result of transportation. Since I am American, the

Solutions Paper

organization that I am going to create is going to focus on the transportation problems occurring
in the United States and to try and reach the minds of American citizens. I am going to use
research that pertains to the United States as well.
The main reason that I am creating this organization is to fix the problems that motor
vehicles and other types of transportation cause towards the environment and the people that live
in our environment. In the United States, twenty-seven percent of carbon dioxide emissions
come from motor vehicle tailpipes (Bell, 2012). This statistic demonstrates how much of a
factor transportation plays into our environment in the United States. These carbon dioxide
emissions are warming up the earths atmosphere, which then is a large influence on global
warming. Yet even though our society is aware of this large problem, no solutions have been
created to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In my mind, our society will never get rid of cars
because of how useful they are. Bell writes Cars vastly increase our personal mobility. They are
an incredibly flexible and relatively inexpensive form of transportation (Bell, 2012). The
solution in my mind has been in front of everyone in the United States for many years. The best
solution is electric cars, solar cars, and other energy-efficient powered cars. The main problem
though, is educating the citizens of the U.S. so that they realize how the gasoline powered cars
they use are damaging the environment daily.
Through my organization, a way that I will hope to raise awareness is through multiple
public appearances across the country in popular cities. In these events, I will speak to people
who attend about the problems of current cars and how they hurt the environment we live in. I
would also bring along hybrid cars so that people can view one in person and maybe drive one if
they so choose. This could show people how hybrid cars are not much different than gasoline
powered cars. By raising awareness about this problem and touring the country, I believe that

Solutions Paper

more people will be touched and therefore, hopefully, decide to make the switch to non-gasoline
powered cars. If more people would switch to hybrid cars, our environment would become
cleaner because of this. Also, the effects would be limited towards global warming, a major
problem in our society.
Societal and Environmental Problems of Current Transportation
A major problem that is a result of transportation in todays society is the vast amount of
motor vehicle crashes that result in death or traumatic injuries. In the United States in 2007
there were 41,059 motor vehicle fatalities. During the twentieth century there were three million
people killed in motor vehicle related traffic incidents (Black, 2010). And on top of all of the
fatalities that occur in motor vehicle accidents, you cannot overlook the accidents that lead to
injuries. In 2007 estimates suggest that about 2.49 million people are injured annually in motor
vehicle-related accidents (Black, 2010). Our current transportation system is not working
properly and this is one example of why. People in our society should not be killed just by
driving a vehicle to the places that they want to go.
As of right now, transportation is creating deterring effects towards the environment that
we all live in and also is the cause of many deaths and injuries related to cars along with other
forms of transportation. Through public speaking and events to raise awareness about these two
major problems of transportation, I hope to let other people become aware of how transportation
is hurting our society. Although speaking about the problems is beneficial, I will have to talk
about what solutions can be proposed on how to fix these important problems that are present.

Solutions Paper

Proposed Solutions
There are many ways that I believe the amount of fatalities and injuries related with
motor vehicle accidents can be avoided. One way that I believe can impact this drastically is to
fund a local program that exists throughout every state that focuses on how to limit accidents.
One example on how to do this is to install cameras on every street that monitors people
speeding or driving in a dangerous way. After doing this, create punishments that the public are
aware about. Say that if a camera catches you speeding and takes a video of it, you could face a
fine for putting yourself and other drivers in harms way. By doing this, I believe that people will
focus more on how they drive and will deter people that speed because of the fear of having to
pay a fine. Another example of how the local programs can reduce accidents is to bring into
effect more safety features on the roads. This can include, but not limited to: roundabouts, guard
rails, remove all rigid barriers (trees, telephone poles, etc.), and require that all motorcyclists
wear helmets. There are many other small ideas that can make a large impact on how to reduce
the amount of accidents and fatalities that occur on a daily basis. These are just the solutions on
how my organization is going to raise the awareness to do so.
The World Health Organization estimates that suspended particulate matter leads to the
premature death of over 500,000 people per year (The World Bank- Gwilliam, 2002). When I
look at this statistic, it appalls me. As a result of pollution to our environment, people are dying
when they shouldnt be. Transportation is a part of this stat and leads to the pollution that our
environment suffers from. When I see stats like these, I want to find and propose solutions to the
problems of transportation in our society. One way that I believe can help this problem is to
improve the quality of transport fuels. Lead has historically been added to gasoline as an octane
enhancer and is largely toxic. The availability of unleaded gasoline throughout a country is a

Solutions Paper

prerequisite for the introduction of catalytic converters to reduce the emissions of NOx, CO, and
hydrocarbons (The World Bank- Gwilliam, 2002). These emissions can cause harmful health
effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues.
By eliminating lead as an ingredient in gasoline, forms of transportation would not release these
harmful chemicals into our environment, damaging it, and also creating health problems to some
people.
I focused on it earlier in the paper, but I feel very strongly that switching to smart cars
and hybrid cars can reduce the harmful effects that current uses of transportation cause on the
environment. Most transportation methods reduce large amounts of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, transportation is responsible
for 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions, and the automobile-truck sector is responsible for
nearly 80% of that level (Black, 2003). Electric cars can help fix this problem because they do
not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when they are being driven (Perl and Gilbert,
2010). Other benefits of switching to electric cars include lower maintenance costs of
locomotives. Electric power car maintenance costs are one third to one half that of diesel
(White, 2009).
Conclusion
To conclude, by creating an organization that focuses on the current transportation
problems in our society, I hope to make aware to more people how these problems can be solved.
As a notice, there are many more problems that exist because of transportation, but the ones
covered in this paper are ones that I feel the most strongly about. The goal of the non-profit
organization that I would create is to be able to become large enough to host events throughout
the United States and to impact as many people as possible. Millions of people in the United

Solutions Paper

States are not aware of the fact that they are hurting the environment that they live in just by
starting their car. By raising the awareness that is needed, I would hope to make an impact on
transportation and change it for the better. This would result in a more sustainable environment
that would last longer. That is what our society needs to try and create, so that many generations
past us can experience the beauty that is our environment.

Solutions Paper

References

Perl, Anthony and Gilbert, Richard. Transportation in the Post Carbon World. Post
Carbon Reader. Healdsburg: Watershed Media, 2010. Print.

Bell, Michael M. An Invitation to Environmental Sociology. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE
Publications, 2012. Print.

White, Peter. Public Transport: Its Planning, Management, and Operation. 5th ed. New
York: Routledge, 2009. Print.

Black, William. Transportation: A Geographical Analysis. New York: Guilford Publications.

2003. Print.

Black, William. Sustainable Transportation. New York: Guilford Publications. 2010. Print.

Gwilliam, Ken. Cities on the Move: A World Bank Urban Transport Strategy Review.
Washington, DC: The World Bank. 2002. Print.