TEHRAN -- A traffic deputy in the country's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), Commander Ansari, said: "Three hundred days of the year, the air in Tehran is polluted."

Talking on the occasion of Traffic Day marked nationwide Sunday, he said that about 15 million trips take place inside Tehran daily, but that no one wants to find a solution to Tehran's traffic problems. Tehran is 50 percent short of streets to accommodate vehicles and the problem is becoming critical, he added. He stressed that Tehran's problems will not be solved by increasing police surveillance of the city, adding that Tehran residents should develop the right culture and mentality toward the city's traffic problems. "It needs a national will."

"Only half of people who make trips inside the city of Tehran use public vehicles. Increasing the number of public vehicles and subways can lessen the problem," he further said.

Commander Ansari pointed out that another way of solving traffic problems is by increasing the amount of fines imposed for traffic violations, adding that the idea would be practical with the cooperation of Tehran Municipality, the Interior Ministry and the Law Enforcement Forces. The suggestion, if implemented, would encourage drivers to heed traffic rules and avoid wrongful practices, he said.

In conclusion, he revealed that there is only one parking lot for every 6,500 cars in Tehran. Tehran Municipality and the Interior Ministry should be able to do something about this problem, he said.