Singaporeans have a passion for cars. I, too, ogle Internet pictures of the latest models at international car shows. The only thing that stops me from owning one is the terrible inefficiency of a car.

The thought that it takes a two-tonne machine - and 12 litres of fuel for every 100km - just to transport my 70kg body where I want to go is ridiculous. The resources and energy needed to make each two-tonne machine and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacturing process and during its short average lifespan of less than 10 years make car use irresponsible.

It is also obscene that cars take away large chunks of land to build roads, using up more resources.

The ugly fact is that 500,000 private cars contribute to more than 20 per cent of total pollution in Singapore and more than 10 times what buses and trains contribute.

If a scientific health study is conducted, it would show clearly that the car population here has a huge and costly impact on the health and health-care costs of Singaporeans. We should seriously consider a pollution tax on all petrol and diesel sold in Singapore. The impact on health-care costs should be borne by all drivers.

The impact of private cars on the environment is too great to be shouldered by the Ministry of Transport alone. As it affects people's health, the environment and land resources, the Government should adopt a holistic approach in addressing and educating the public on the true costs of car ownership and use in Singapore.

Syu Ying Kwok