Can private cars restriction policy help reduce air pollution in big cities? A case study of Tehran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Transportation Planning Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of civil and environmental engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

It is a common understanding that higher traffic volume leads to more pollutant air. Therefore, when the air quality deteriorates, policy makers restrict private vehicles to decrease the air population. This study aims to challenge this assumption by using statistical models including multivariate regression and ordered logistic regression models. These models are calibrated by employing datasets on air pollution, traffic quality, and weather conditions, for Tehran the capital of Iran by using R studio. The results show that the coefficient of the Traffic Quality Index (TQI), representing traffic volume, is not statistically significant. This finding suggests that traffic volume does not significantly impact air quality in Tehran. Among the variables, temperature has the most considerable effect on air pollution and has the highest significant coefficient. The coefficients of all variables align with our previous knowledge. In fact, temperature and wind speed showing negative significant coefficients, implying that lower temperatures and slower wind speeds leads to higher levels of air pollution. Conversely, TQI and humidity exhibit positive significant coefficients, showing that increased traffic volume and higher humidity levels are associated with more polluted air. In conclusion, restricting private cars may not be a practical solution for addressing the issue of air pollution in Tehran.

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AUT Journal of Civil Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 October 2024

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