THERE IS ANOTHER REASON to get frustrated at traffic lights – your health is at risk.
Campaigners and researchers in the UK claim the country has a public health emergency due to air pollution and argue that the Government hasn’t taken their claims seriously.
Drivers inhale 29 times more pollution when they are waiting for the green light than when in free- flowing traffic.
Just 2% of an average commuter’s 1½-hour journey is at lights but in that time they take in 25% of their total exposure to fumes.
The hotspots are traffic junctions as cars brake and stop, engines idle and then when the lights change vehicles rev and accelerate away pumping out pollution.
Research at Surrey University has revealed that air pollution was recently placed in the top 10 health risks faced by human beings globally, with the World Health Organization linking air pollution to seven million premature deaths every year.
Air pollution can cause lung and heart diseases and stroke deaths.
In the UK travelling in cars to work has not declined in the last decade. Drivers, passengers and pedestrians are being exposed to increasing levels of air pollution as people undertake their daily commutes.
Manchester, Birmingham, London and Liverpool had at least five days in 2014 when the air was potentially harmful to healthy people.
The worrying figures come from the UK Government’s own air quality index and unless it drastically cuts car emissions there will be dire implications for health in urban areas, say environment campaigners.
They say ministers are failing to do enough to fight the problem, despite cycling initiatives and low emission zones.
London recorded the worst pollution.
Drivers have been warned to avoid busy intersections and to be aware of the risks when waiting at busy lights. “
Other tips include keeping vehicle windows shut, turning of the fans and keeping your distance between you and the car in front of you with pedestrians warned to stay away from traffic light hotspots.
Local transport agencies could also help by synchronising traffic signals to reduce waiting time and consider alternative traffic management systems such as flyovers.
What else can we do to reduce air pollution at traffic lights?