Ecobreves – MEXICO: More Traffic Restrictions, Better Air Quality

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

MEXICO CITY, Aug 25 2008 (IPS) - The inclusion of Saturdays in the Mexican capital's program for limiting the circulation of certain cars to certain days has made a notable improvement in air quality. Measurements previous to the new limits, in place since July 12, showed that air pollution decreased 32 percent on average when comparing the five first Saturdays when the policy took effect to the same five days in 2007, according to figures that the Mexico City Environment Secretariat provided to Tierramérica.

The ban on driving on Saturdays is applied in steps to all vehicles, based on the last number on their license plates.

The Saturday circulation restrictions, which some people believe are ineffective, were added to the Monday-through-Friday limits, which have been in place for a decade. In Mexico City and the neighboring state of Mexico live more than 20 million people, with some four million vehicles.