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Speed Limits in São Paulo and the Actions for Road Safety and Air Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas Gonçalves

    (Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Arlindo Béttio, 1000, Ermelino Matarazzo, Sâo Paulo CEP 03828-000, SP, Brazil)

  • Regina Maura de Miranda

    (Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Arlindo Béttio, 1000, Ermelino Matarazzo, Sâo Paulo CEP 03828-000, SP, Brazil)

  • Celio Daroncho

    (Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas CEP 13083-889, SP, Brazil)

  • Janini de Oliveira Dias da Silva

    (Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas CEP 13083-889, SP, Brazil)

  • Fabrício Rodrigues Teixeira

    (Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas CEP 13083-889, SP, Brazil)

  • João Augusto Dunck Dalosto

    (Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas CEP 13083-889, SP, Brazil)

  • Pedro José Pérez-Martínez

    (Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas CEP 13083-889, SP, Brazil)

Abstract

Studies carried out have revealed that every day around three thousand people lose their lives in the world due to traffic accidents and poor air quality. Large cities, with their millions of inhabitants and vehicles, face many problems relating to vehicular traffic. In 2015, the speed limit was modified on several roads in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. However, in 2017, the speed limits were increased again, but not on all previous routes. This study analyzed the impact of this change on the number of accidents and pollutant concentrations, over a period of ten years, comparing the periods before and after the implementation of the measure, using real data collected and provided by the authorities of the city and the state transit and environmental companies, on more than forty routes and two nearby air-quality stations. The results showed a clear reduction in the number of accidents without victims on the roads of the city of São Paulo, starting in 2010. Although the restrictive measures imposed by government officials may have contributed to the decrease in the number of accidents, the number of fatalities has not changed so much. Air pollution has not improved substantially with speed changes, as new speed increases have been linked to new episodes of congestion. The average number of fatalities due to accidents has been increasing since 2010 and accidents are becoming more serious. The application of a general linear statistical model (GLM) estimated the impact of the speed reduction policy in terms of the number of injuries avoided per month: 43.4 and 14.1 on other roads and on the Pinheiros highways, respectively. The results highlight the need for a constant data collection by the authorities in cities with high vehicle traffic. The important temporal time trend in terms of reduction of injuries, but not in terms of fatalities and air quality, shows the need to apply joint public policies, not only speed reduction, but also the use of new technologies and raising drivers’ awareness of the problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas Gonçalves & Regina Maura de Miranda & Celio Daroncho & Janini de Oliveira Dias da Silva & Fabrício Rodrigues Teixeira & João Augusto Dunck Dalosto & Pedro José Pérez-Martínez, 2024. "Speed Limits in São Paulo and the Actions for Road Safety and Air Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:18:p:8065-:d:1478689
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ang, Amanda & Christensen, Peter & Vieira, Renato, 2020. "Should congested cities reduce their speed limits? Evidence from São Paulo, Brazil," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    2. Ta-Chien Chan & Chih-Wei Pai & Chia-Chieh Wu & Jason C. Hsu & Ray-Jade Chen & Wen-Ta Chiu & Carlos Lam, 2022. "Association of Air Pollution and Weather Factors with Traffic Injury Severity: A Study in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
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