Red traffic lights expose drivers to dangerously high levels of pollution, researchers warn today.
Commuters who spend 90 minutes a day travelling will get 25% of their exposure to harmful particles of pollution from red lights – although just 2% of the journey is spent at these junctions, according to the study from Surrey University, UK.
The findings, reported in Atmospheric Environment, challenge the use of traffic lights to manage congestion and encourage drivers to switch to public transport.
Researcher Dr Prashant Kumar said: “Air pollution was recently placed in the top ten health risks faced by human beings globally, with the World Health Organisation linking air pollution to seven million premature deaths every year.
“Our time spent travelling in cars has remain fairly constant during the past decade despite the efforts to reduce it and with more cars than ever joining the roads, we are being exposed to increasing levels of air pollution as we undertake our daily commutes.”
He added: "The best ways to limit your exposure is to keep vehicle windows shut, fans off and try to increase the distance between you and the car in front where possible. Pedestrians regularly crossing such routes should consider whether there might be other paths less dependent on traffic light crossings.
" Local transport agencies could also help by synchronising traffic signals to reduce waiting time and consider alternative traffic management systems such as flyovers.”
* A second study today in The BMJ accuses the UK government of delaying action to tackle deaths and injuries linked to young drivers.
Sarah Jones, from Public Health Wales, says graduated licensing is the best solution. This would introduce an intermediate phase before new drivers get a full licence – restricting late night driving, alcohol consumption and the carrying of passengers.
She says that in two years 866 people have been seriously or fatally injured in road crashes involving young drivers.
Characterisation of nanoparticle emissions and exposure at traffic intersections through fast–response mobile and sequential measurements. Atmospheric Environment 12 February 2015
BMJ 12 February 2015 [abstract]
Leave a Reply