Why can’t we have blissful school holiday traffic all year long?

If the dwindling peak hour traffic during school holidays is anything go by, either there’s a mass exodus from the work force or people have their kids enrolled in schools nowhere near their homes.

In peak-hour traffic, Sydney roads just cope. This is not a new revelation, more like a feeble acceptance from someone who has spent more time studying taillights and backed-up numberplates than actually moving in the morning rush.

Getting to second gear is so exciting. If I move in to third and dare I say fourth, I am filled with happiness. I can guarantee there won’t be any shuffle to fifth, but it’s exhilarating to reach the speed limit.

I shouldn’t sound so ungrateful though, the last two weeks have been bliss on the roads. No real traffic jams to report, a smooth run to and fro my daily doings and a friendly wave from other friendly drivers happy to be allowed a cut-in.

It seems school holidays make all the difference between driving with angst and a defeatist attitude that nothing can be done about this crazy traffic business, or moving along at a normal pace.

A Maritime services spokesperson says comparison of traffic volumes in 2014 showed a reduction in traffic on Sydney’s major roads during peak travel times in school holidays.

“Roads sampled include the Cahill Expressway, Cleveland Street at Moore Park, Victoria Road and the Pacific Highway. In morning peak between 6am and 9am there is a reduction in traffic volume of between 20 and 30 per cent. In afternoon peak between 3pm and 7pm there is a reduction in traffic volume of between six and 15 per cent.”

I was pampered with two weeks of light traffic, only to be unceremoniously hurled back into the fire pit this week when the school run kicked back into gear.

It got me to thinking, what on earth happens during school holidays? It would be impossible for every working parent to take a chunk of leave every time terms breaks. Whole industries would be rendered useless. Banks would shut, retailers would close their doors and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone to make you a soy latte in your favourite café. Clearly, there can’t be a mass exodus from the work force during school holidays.

Could it be possible then, that parents are ferrying their kids to and from school from one side of Sydney to another during the school terms? I’m all for finding the most appropriate school for your child, but seriously, wouldn’t the roads be better off if everyone considered sending their child to a school closer to home?

Perhaps that way we could enjoy the relative bliss of school-holiday unblocked roads all year long.