Dutch study concludes speed limits could cut CO2 emissions by 30%
Mon 19 April 2010
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Research by CE Delft, an independent Dutch environmental consultancy, finds that carbon dioxide emissions from road transport could be reduced by 30% if motorway speed limits in the Netherlands were set at 80 km/h. The findings suggest that CO2 reductions of 2.8 million tonnes for passenger cars, and a further 0.2mt for delivery vans would be achievable.
The emissions savings assume a uniform speed limit of 80 km/h which is strictly enforced. Less drastic tightening of speed limits result in emissions cuts of 8-21%.
The research also finds that, because of the longer travel times resulting from lower speed limits, fewer car kilometres will be driven and there will be ‘a certain shift from private car to public transport’. The researchers also believe this will lead in the longer term to people moving closer to their workplace and shops relocating closer to consumers, thereby reducing overall car kilometres.
The report says that the lower speed limit would bring about improvements in air pollution, noise nuisance, traffic safety and possibly congestion. But, it says, conventional measures of economic welfare show lower speeds and reduced traffic volumes as costs.
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