Road Traffic Digest No. 3

Road Traffic Hazard No. 2 Environmental pollution The worst ‘side effect’ of explosive growth of vehicles Copy right: tsunamionroads.org

Do you know? How much is the contribution of vehicles to total urban air pollution in India? In % of total air pollution In % of total air pollution In % of total air pollution! [acc. to UNEP]

Copy right: tsunamionroads.org Fact: In last 20 years: industrial pollution has increased only 4 times while vehicular pollution has increased 8 times

The worst fact about vehicular pollution is – - - any guesses??

that emission occurs at the ground or breathing level

- - - While in industrial pollution, emission occurs at a much higher level and that too a little away from habitation Copy right: tsunamionroads.org

Pedestrians, hawkers, shopkeepers and two wheeler riders are the main sufferers Copy right: tsunamionroads.org

The Traffic Policeman is the worst sufferer

Use of masks by traffic policemen are not very uncommon these days

However, it is extremely shocking when we see this on - - -

our glaciers We have taken this photograph near Rohtang Pass in HP. It shows a traffic policeman using his handkerchief to protect himself from vehicular pollution. Just behind him one can see glacier.

Copy right: tsunamionroads.org -- - reason being that during tourist season, everyday around 4000–5000 vehicles are making a round trip from Manali to this glacier [Rohtang pass].

Vehicular emission is not sparing even our glaciers! What more evidence do we need now?

in India in India WHO has confirmed that air pollution causes 5.27 lakhs premature deaths causes 5.27 lakhs premature deaths every year every year

Urban air pollution is estimated to cost approx. 5% Urban air pollution is estimated to cost approx. 5% of GDP in developing countries like India [UNEP] of GDP in developing countries like India [UNEP] or Rs. 30,66,60,00,00,000 are lost in India every year due to urban air pollution T his loss can be directly linked to explosive growth of vehicles in India as at present 90% of urban air pollution is due to motorized vehicles

Pollution induced diseases like respiratory problems are times more common in metro cities as compared to smaller cities Pollution induced diseases like respiratory problems are times more common in metro cities as compared to smaller cities At present % population in metro cities is suffering from respiratory diseases At present % population in metro cities is suffering from respiratory diseases

Vehicular pollution is affecting right from Pediatric

to Geriatric population

More shockingly, even the fetus is not spared by this vehicular pollution

Studies in USA, china and Australia have shown that pregnant women living near busy roads have more chances of birth defects, fetal growth retardation and premature delivery !! ????

Please pay serious attention and don’t let your vehicle victimize this unborn!

Some more interesting facts about road traffic hazards Follow Wait for the next digests

If you find merit with this message, please forward it to people who can play a good role in solving traffic related hazards in our life. For people who are concerned for traffic related problems like traffic congestion, pollution, road rage, etc and want to avoid road accidents in their and their beloved one’s life, it is requested to visit: Tsunami on Roads: Wake up India!

Jai Hind