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Assessing the Impact of Vehicle Speed Limits and Fleet Composition on Air Quality Near a School

Author

Listed:
  • Jiayi Tang

    (Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland)

  • Aonghus McNabola

    (Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
    Global Centre for Clean Air Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

  • Bruce Misstear

    (Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland)

  • Francesco Pilla

    (Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland)

  • Md Saniul Alam

    (Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
    Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Dublin D04 R2C5, Ireland)

Abstract

Traffic is a major source of urban air pollution that affects health, especially among children. As lower speed limits are commonly applied near schools in many cities, and different governments have different policies on vehicle fleet composition, this research estimated how different speed limits and fleet emissions affect air quality near a primary school. Based on data of traffic, weather, and background air quality records in Dublin from 2013, traffic, emission, and dispersion models were developed to assess the impact of different speed limits and fleet composition changes against current conditions. Outside the school, hypothetical speed limit changes from 30 km/h to 50 km/h could reduce the concentration of NO 2 and PM 10 by 3% and 2%; shifts in the fleet from diesel to petrol vehicles could reduce these pollutants by 4% and 3% but would increase the traffic-induced concentrations of CO and Benzene by 63% and 35%. These changes had significantly larger impacts on air quality on streets with higher pollutant concentrations. Findings suggest that both road safety and air quality should be considered when determining speed limits. Furthermore, fleet composition has different impacts on different pollutants and there are no clear benefits associated with incentivising either diesel or petrol engine vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiayi Tang & Aonghus McNabola & Bruce Misstear & Francesco Pilla & Md Saniul Alam, 2019. "Assessing the Impact of Vehicle Speed Limits and Fleet Composition on Air Quality Near a School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:1:p:149-:d:195576
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Int Panis, L. & Beckx, C. & Broekx, S. & De Vlieger, I. & Schrooten, L. & Degraeuwe, B. & Pelkmans, L., 2011. "PM, NOx and CO2 emission reductions from speed management policies in Europe," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 32-37, January.
    2. Md. Saniul Alam & Aonghus McNabola, 2018. "Network-wide traffic and environmental impacts of acceleration and deceleration among Eco-Driving Vehicles in different road configurations," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 244-264, April.
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