There are plenty of interesting suggestions put forward in the attempt to reduce carbon dioxide emissions – but here is one that might stick in the throat of a few passionate motorists.
Research undertaken by CE Delft for NGO Milieudefensie in the Netherlands suggests that CO2 emissions from road transport could be reduced by 30 per cent if motorway speed limits were set at 50mph. It estimates that the optimum long term reduction would be 2.8million tonnes of CO2 for passenger cars in the country.
It also suggests that with longer travel times due to the lower speed limits, fewer car kilometres will be driven and there will be a shift to public transport. This could lead to people moving closer to their workplace and shops and thereby reducing overall car kilometres.
CO2 emissions from passenger cars are of course directly related to fuel consumption although non-technology factors also play their part including driving speed and driving pattern. Fuel consumption increases at higher speeds primarily because increasing speed also increases wind resistance.
Lower speed limits would therefore reduce air pollution as well as congestion, noise nuisance and provide a boost to traffic safety.
However, would you be happy to see motorway/highway speed limits reduced to help the battle against emissions? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
