Vehicular traffic sources have expanded rapidly in the last 3 decades. There has been a 4-to-5 fold increase in traffic activity in urban areas of industrialized western nations over the last 30 years. In many developing nations, the increase has been 10-fold or more.
Urban transport is a large contributor to the most harmful fine particulate emissions, and is responsible for 80-90% of atmospheric lead in cities where leaded gasoline is still used, for the majority of CO emissions, and contributes significantly to the formation of ground level ozone. Measures to control transport pollution will also often contribute to a desirable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Information Pool provides comprehensive information on cleaner vehicle/fuels technologies for urban buses and trucks and will be continuously updated. It is being prepared by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) in collaboration with Clean Air Initiative partners.
Measures to control transport pollution can be taken in the following areas:
Fuel Policy
Measures may include improving existing fuel quality, substituting cleaner fuels and influencing fuel consumption. For many developing countries the first step in improving fuel quality has been the phasing out of lead from gasoline. Reducing and removing sulfur from diesel and improving the vehicle fleet to make it less polluting and more efficient are also basic policy steps.
Improving vehicle technology, replacing existing stock with more environmentally-friendly technology, particularly options for 2 or 3-wheelers, and the usage of existing vehicle stock, are essential parts of vehicle policy
Applying Environmental Standards
Vehicle emissions standards can be applied through the use of inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. Since poorly maintained vehicles are responsible for a disproportionately high share of total emissions, both I/M and scrappage programs are critical.
Fiscal measures
Taxing fuels at a level that reflects externalities such as pollution, import costs and proxy charges for road maintenance costs is one domestic taxation policy option. Other measures include lowering or eliminating import tariffs on new vehicles, making newer technology and cleaner vehicles more readily available.
System management policies can be grouped into two broad categories - managing traffic for smooth flows, and reducing the actual volume of traffic
| 
