In fact I believe that...

Ducks? “You know, the nickname for the Citroën 2CV6 car.”

Oh… But how? “Well, the solution to the problem of traffic congestion does not lie with the authorities, but with the motorists. You can widen the roads and introduce tollbooths but the result of all this is that people will see congestion as a management problem and not something they themselves have to try and find a solution for.”

And what has the ‘duck’ or 2CV6 got to do with this? “I once turned down the offer of a leased car and I am still driving my old 2CV6 around. And this is no luxury, believe me. It is cold, drafty and noisy, so it is not something you drive for pleasure. I pay for my own petrol and maintenance. And because old cars have very simple engines I am able to service the car myself; unlike modern cars where you have to be a trained specialist to fix it. Actually, tinkering with your car does have its good sides too – there is always some passerby or other willing to offer a helping hand or just stopping for a chat; more often than not it turns out they too once had a 2CV6.”

Yes, but what does all this have to do with congestion? “What I am trying to say is that I have a relationship with my car that is very different to what people have with a newer, more luxurious car. Because of the lack of comfort, I think twice about whether I really need to make the trip. Whether it wouldn’t be better to go by train or by bike or not at all. So congestion becomes my problem and I find a way to solve it.”

So you might as well not have a car at all. “Not true, because I enjoy the freedom of movement the 2CV6 gives me. It is so handy having a car. No doubt about it. But with my 2CV6 I simply limit my individual mobility.”

But isn’t it quite dangerous to drive around in an old car? “Safety is the product of a number of variables. One: the number of kilometres is definitely lower if you have to drive around in discomfort. Secondly: the maximum speed is very low and, in fact, I have never actually driven in the fast lane. Three: the way you drive – you really are far more careful when you are so vulnerable. With airbags, crash zones and a Side-Impact Protection System you transfer your responsibility to the car. Now that’s what I really call unsafe.”

Wiebe de Jager is information manager for IMD (Institute for Multiparty Democracy, www.nimd.org), which is based in the Netherlands and supports young democrats. He is also involved with www.theworldvotes.org (an attempt to get everybody to join in the voting during the American presidential elections).