Chapter 7 New directions: Air pollution and road traffic in developing countries

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problems of air pollution and road traffic in developing countries. Motorized road vehicles are the primary means of transporting passengers and freight throughout the developing world because of their versatility, flexibility, and low initial cost as compared to other transport modes. Over the last two decades, motor vehicles have emerged as a critical source of urban air pollution in much of the developing world. Pollutant levels in megacities, such as Bangkok, Mexico City, and Cairo, far exceed those in any city in industrialized countries. Experimentation with alternative fuels, such as electricity, LPG, CNG, etc., has met with varying degrees of success. Factors such as higher initial costs and subsidies, relative fuel prices, public inertia and acceptance, and lack of a policy framework impede the widespread implementation of alternative fuel technologies in transport vehicles. Planning and management, as well as the regular monitoring and evaluation of air quality, vehicle emissions, and health impacts, are essential if human health and productivity in these countries are to be protected. These actions need to be supported by technical measures involving the vehicle–fuel complex to reduce automotive emissions. In addition, transport demand management and market incentives, along with urban transport and road infrastructure improvements, are also required.