Impact of traffic control measures in reducing pollutant dose by shifting from car commuting to walking to school

Abstract

Traffic-related air pollution, especially emissions from car traffic significantly contributes to 73% of urban air pollution worldwide. Children are significantly exposed to this pollution while commuting between home and school. To reduce air pollution concentrations around school area many traffic management strategies have been investigated. This study employs a traffic (Newell’s car following rule) and an emission model (PHEM) to assess the trade-off between pollutant concentration under different traffic control measures and changes in total pollutant dose resulting from an increase in the number of children driven to school. The experiment was conducted based on a primary school situated along a busy street, where increasing traffic volume leading to congestion is a major concern. The results indicate that reducing the number of children driven to school, implementing speed reductions, and optimising traffic signals significantly contribute to concentration reductions, thereby reducing the exposure dose for school-going children. The analysis emphasises the importance of holistic strategies aimed at modifying travel patterns around school areas to effectively mitigate emissions from vehicular traffic.