Academy of Sciences: driving bans are unlikely to be successful

How useful are the driving restrictions for clean air? Recently had a fight about politics. Now the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina has published its opinion with a critical result.

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina holds limited diesel driving bans on the roads for little bit of success, in order to improve the air in cities. Short-term and small-scale restrictions would lead to a modal shift in other areas of the city, said in a statement. The researchers speak of "short-term activism," and recommended a fundamental shift in Traffic, with an Expansion of public transport.

The scientists see it as a matter of priority, to strengthen the nitrogen dioxide limit values. These are exceeded in many cities, primarily through diesel exhaust. In principle, however, it had to be done in order to reduce the emission of pollutants. The same is true for fine dust and greenhouse gases. The scientists argued, to focus the efforts for air pollution control the fine dust reduction.

at the end of January, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had asked the scientists of the Leopoldina, to deal with the health hazards of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and to give recommendations for the improvement of air quality. A group of pulmonary physicians, as well as the Federal Minister of transport, Andreas Scheuer had set the limit values for nitrogen oxide in question, the basis of the court-arranged diesel driving bans in many German inner cities.