Road traffic is currently a major source of nitrogen oxide emissions, a pollutant that has a direct impact on human health and a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are responsible for global warming. Between 1.63 and 1.88 million residents, or 27 to 32% of Occitanie’s population, are exposed to annual nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations above WHO health thresholds (World Health Organization).
To encourage public authorities to take measures to safeguard health, Atmo Occitanie, the regional air observatory, has just presented the results of a study launched a year ago “Breathe better – Get your feet off the ground”. This concerns all departments of the Occitanie region. Therefore, two factors were evaluated: lowering speeds and reducing motor vehicle travel, to measure their impact on energy consumption, atmospheric pollutant emissions and population exposure to pollution.
By reducing car speeds by 20 km/h on roads with speed restrictions of 110 and 130 km/h and by 10 km/h at speeds of 80 and 90 km/h, the number of people exposed to air pollution in the Haute-Garonne fell by 7.2%, or 14,500 people. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the reduction was 3.1% and saved 600 lives.
“Reducing speed is an economic benefit with an average reduction in fuel consumption of 2.5% on a regional scale, an environmental benefit with a reduction in regional NOx emissions of 8.4% (nitrogen and oxygen compounds) on the road transport sector and a positive health impact with a 6% reduction in people exposed to nitrogen dioxide concentrations above the threshold set by the European Union”, underlines Dominique Tilak, general director of Atmo Occitanie.
Benefits of soft mobility
For the motor vehicle trip reduction hypothesis, the organization counted one in ten daily trips made by light mobility or public transport. The health benefits for residents in the Haute-Garonne are significant as research shows that 47.1% of the population would be exposed to less pollution, or 132,450 people. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 50%, or 700 people, avoided health problems.
“There are real challenges in urban areas in this regard with developing public transport and soft modes,” analyzes Emilie Dalix, president of Atmo Occitanie. For greenhouse gases, the reduction was 11.5%. We can act as citizens, but political decision makers can also take firm decisions regarding speed reduction.”
