The Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to review air quality in their area against targets to be set by the Government. Where air quality standards do not (or are not expected to) meet those targets, authorities will be required to establish local air quality management action plans. Traffic can be a major contributor to poor local air quality. It can be expected that most action plans will need to include measures to reduce the impact of traffic emissions. Even where action plans are not required, regard needs to be had to the effect that new traffic management schemes might have on vehicle noise and exhaust emissions. To help in this, Driver Information and Traffic Management Division (DITM) of the Department of Transport has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to undertake research into the effects of different traffic management techniques on the environment, with a particular emphasis on the air quality implications. The first stage of this project was an examination of existing material on the subject. The full report, "The environmental assessment of traffic management schemes: A literature review"(TRL Project Report 174) can be purchased from TRL. This leaflet is based on the findings on traffic management and exhaust emissions. A separate TA Leaflet is to be issued concerning traffic management and noise. Neither the scope of the research, nor this leaflet, specifically covers the use of traffic management to influence short "episodes" of atmospheric pollution. (Author/publisher)
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