Breaking News English

The huge [surge / purge] in the popularity of online shopping is creating [chaotic / chaos] on the streets of our cities and [in / on] our road networks. As the number of online deliveries [are / is] skyrocketing, the number of delivery trucks making sure we get our parcels has also increased. The result is that hundreds more trucks are [clogged / clogging] up city streets. This is increasing congestion and adding to levels of pollution. There are [literally / literal] hundreds more delivery trucks in cities around the world all [trying / tried] to get parcels delivered on time. Delivery drivers are battling for [frequent / often] non-existent parking spaces. Many are forced to park illegally, or [double / doubly] park, adding to the gridlock for other road users. And the problem is set to [intensity / intensify] .

The BBC reports that the [voluminous / volume] of parcel deliveries surged by almost 50 per cent between 2014 and 2016. It said this could continue to increase [by / as] up to 28 per cent a year over the [next / followed] three years. Many cities have taken tough [measures / measuring] to counteract the problems [association / associated] with the increasing number of deliveries. Many cities in Europe and Asia have barred [deliveries / delivered] during times when roads are busiest. London is looking at the [possible / possibility] of using buses for parcel deliveries. Some areas of London are also [crackling / cracking] down on food delivery motorbikes after their streets were [being / been] 'swarmed' by scooter riders. Food delivery companies in one London district must now apply [to / for] permission to operate.