Traffic congestion and its hazards

TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ITS
HAZARDS
Prepared by:
NIMRA ZAMAN
MPH PART-02 (2017-19)

Traffic congestion
• "congestion“ means blocking the way, or
obstructing the circulation or movement of
something. In our case this "something" would
be vehicle traffic.
• Congestion arises when a roadway system
approaches vehicle capacity, resulting in
numerous negative impacts
• Towards a practical definition of traffic
congestion One possible objective definition
would be
"the condition that prevails when the entry
of an additional vehicle into a traffic flow
increases journey time for other vehicles."
• Traffic congestion is a condition on road
networks that occurs as use increases, and is
characterized by slower speeds, longer trip
times.
• When traffic demand is great enough that the
interaction between vehicles slows the speed
of the traffic stream, this results in some
congestion

BANGKOK IS NOTORIOUS FOR ITS
TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

–PAKISTAN’S BIGGEST EMERGING
CHALLENGE
• Traffic problem in Pakistan is getting worse with every coming day especially in
big cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar and
Hyderabad .
• There has been tremendous growth in the automobile sector in the past
decade in Pakistan
• Vehicle production including cars, trucks, buses, and other commercial
vehicles has significantly increased from 195,791,units in 2001 -02 to 998,592
units in 2005-06(increase of 410%)`
• Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles had substantial growth from
50,000 units/ year to about 200,000 units in 2005 ( 300%increase)
• This upsurge has resulted due to good micro economic fundamentals, the
advent of car financing which has made purchasing of cars more affordable
and increases in per capita income
Increased motorization traffic congestion

KARACHI’S BIGGEST ISSUE FOR
DECADES

• Roads in Pakistan are often blocked due to:
– Lesser number of roads and larger number of cars
– Uncertain political situation on the country
– Rain
– VIP Movements
– Etc..
• Therefore, a lot of man hours are wasted due to traffic
congestion
6

Significance - CONGESTION CAN BE A MAJOR
DAILY HEADACHE
• It is understandable that many people consider congestion a significant
problem. The problem of The traffic congestion in urban areas is one most
significant problem. It is at the alarming state in developing countries.
• Ambient air quality problems tend to be most severe in urban areas,
where population, pollution sources, automobiles, and industry are most
concentrated. In Pakistan, more than 35% of the population lives in urban
areas, most of them in cities of more than 1 million inhabitants.
• If you live in an urban area, traffic congestion can be a major daily
headache. It's bad enough that there isn't enough road capacity for the
increasing numbers of vehicles travelling on them, and rude and
aggressive drivers make a bad situation even worse. Typical urban
residents spend more than ten hours a week driving of which 10-30%
(one to three hours) occurs in congested conditions.
• Traffic congestion reduces travel speeds, creates uncertainly and requires
more driver effort. It is a major source of frustration for busy, productive
people.

•The congestion in urban area is fixed in location and time.
Due to congestion we are losing, Man-Hours, Fuel and Temper causing road rage.
and increasing Health Hazards due to Air and Noise Pollution, Vehicle operating
cost, Wear and Tear of Roads and a national grading as a developed country.
•It is said that the high volume of vehicles, the inadequate infrastructure and the
irrational distribution of the development are main reasons for increasing traffic
congestion.
•Motorists often feel that reducing congestion would make their lives more
efficient and satisfied.
•As a result, conventional planning considers congestion a major problem and
congestion reduction a dominant planning objective.

Increasing
working
population
+
Increasing
income per
capita
+
Decreasing
car prices
= Fastest growing
car market in
world
Increasing car
ownership
+ Increasing
population
spread
+ Under-resourced
road network
=
Urban traffic
congestion

Causes of traffic congestion
Following the major causes of traffic problems and their solutions.
• Small roads for the number of cars and motor cycles.
• Rapid growth of the population. As a result of this, the number of cars is
increasing annually.
• There are more women drivers and younger drivers today than in the past.
• The increase in the number of trucks and commercial vehicles also
causes traffic congestion,
• These vehicles move very slowly, sometimes stopping to unload goods,
and blocking traffic. Broken roads – as people don’t like to move from the
broken part so traffic increases on rest of the
roads.
• Old cars and trucks. Government don’t have a clear policy about old cars
and trucks. Even 50 years old cars are still running on roads.
• One of the most important is parking problems. People find it difficult to
park their cars especially in the city center.

• Another contributing factor is the lack of a public transport infrastructure.
The absence of buses, trains, or An underground forces residents to rely
on cars or taxis.
• The road system is another cause of congestion. Although the roads are
highly developed, planners have not been able to keep up with the rapid
expansion of the population.
• Frequent road works also lead to delays.
• More cars due to bank financing . Now everyone can afford a car so more
cars are there on the road.
• Lack of traffic sense among the people. People don't have traffic sense.
Traffic police and media should play their role in creating traffic sense
amongst the people.
• Corruption among the traffic police in Pakistan. People know that if they
will break the law they will easily be released by giving few rupees to the
police man
• Drivers not following rules and not sufficient action taken against them. So well
Implementation of basic rules like ZEBRA crossing will make a small and noticeable
change for Roads of Pakistan (Were u ever fined for not giving way to pedestrians
on a Zebra Crossing?

LOSSES DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION
• Wasting time of motorists and passengers.
• Fuel loss.
• Loss of pay for employees.
• Loss of life due to not reaching hospital in time.
• Increased road accidents due to over speed taken to make up the lost
time.
• Increased carbon dioxide emission.
• More atmospheric pollution.
• More diseases due to increased pollution.
• Increased mental tension for passengers.
• Increased cost of travel.
• Increased cost of transporting products.
• Increased cost of doing business.
• Wear and tear on vehicles leading to more
• frequent repairs and replacements.
• Stressed and frustrated motorists, encouraging road rage and reduced
health of motorists

TIME LOSS DUE TO CONGESTION
• More than 500 million passengers travel by road every day,
worldwide.
• If a passenger loses 2 minute everyday , in traffic congestion,
total annual time loss is 700,000 YEARS !!! Yes, Unbelievable,
but true. We lose man time equivalent to 700,000 years ,
every year, because of traffic congestion.
THE COSTS OF CONGESTION AND WHO PAYS THEM
• Congestion raises bus fares and delays their passengers. As
mentioned above, congestion is generated mainly by
motorists, who not only suffer the consequences of their own
actions, but also have public transport users pick up a major
part of the bill

• Delays resulting in lost business , personal losses etc…
• (late arrivals). Delays, which may result in late arrival for employment,
meetings, and education, resulting in lost business, disciplinary action
or other personal losses.
• Inability to forecast travel time accurately.
• wasted fuel increases air pollution & co2 emission which
• Contribute Global warming
• Frequent repairs & replacements of vehicles.
• Causing health problems in motorists….[stress, frustration ].
• Emergency vehicles may be blocked.
• Wasting time of motorists and passengers ("opportunity cost"). As a
non-productive activity for most people, congestion reduces regional
economic health.
• Inability to forecast travel time accurately, leading to
drivers allocating more time to travel "just in case", and
less time on productive activities.

EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Millions of people deal with traffic congestion on a
daily basis. Traffic congestion can have a number of
effects on drivers, the environment, health and the
economy. effects of congestion are negative, large in
numbers, long in time and very complicated.
1. Social:
2. Environmental
3. Economic
4. Health

Economical Extra fuel Consumption. Higher motoring costs (wasted fuel)
Losing man hours on roads
Wear & tear of vehicle (Braking and clutch )
Wear& tear of road (braking and acceleration)
A major effect is on productivity and efficiency. Workers and
students are late for work or school. Salesmen and travelers
waste hours in traffic jams, leading to lost profits
• Environmental Generation of fumes by burning extra fuel.
More air pollution due to emissions
Increased noise pollution
Less pleasant environment
Health Driving Stress
Diseases due to air pollutants from vehicles.
Diseases due to noise pollution-vehicle users and
society.
• Social No route for ambulances and emergency vehicles
Road rages due to driving stress.

Health
• Higher levels of anger and frustration
• The biggest effect is increased anger and frustration. resulting in
tension and stress as they sit in traffic. This can even lead to
increased accident rates.
• more than 22,600 deaths per year were directly or indirectly
attributable to ambient air pollution in Pakistan, of which more than
800 are children under five years of age (World Bank 2006, 2008a).
• Outdoor air pollution alone caused more than 80,000 hospital
admissions per year, nearly 8,000 cases of chronic bronchitis, and
almost 5 million cases of lower respiratory cases among children
under five

Impact Category Pollutant / Burden Effects
Human health –
mortality
PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, O3
Benzene, Benzo-[a]-pyrene,
1,3-butadiene, Diesel particles
Noise
Reduction in life expectancy
Cancers
Loss of amenity, impact on health
Human health –
morbidity
PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2
PM2.5, PM10, O3
PM2.5, PM10, NOx, CO
Benzene, Benzo-[a]-pyrene,
1,3-butadiene, Diesel particles
PM2.5, PM10, O3, NOx
Noise
Respiratory hospital admissions
Restricted activity days
Congestive heart failure
Cancer risk (non-fatal)
Cerebro-vascular hospital admissions,
Cases of chronic bronchitis, Cases of
chronic cough in children, Cough in
asthmatics, Lower respiratory
symptoms, Asthma attacks
Myocardial infarction
Angina pectoris
Hypertension
Sleep disturbance
Exposure - Health Impact 22

Traffic congestion and its hazards

Environmental effects
• Pollution
• One of the most harmful effects of traffic congestion is its
impact on the environment. Despite the growing number of
hybrid vehicles on the road, cars stopped in traffic still
produce a large volume of harmful carbon emissions.
• Besides contributing to global warming, these emissions
can cause more short-term and localized problems, such
as smog and increased respiratory problems in a
community due to poor air quality.
Motor transport contributes about 60-80 % of
chemical air pollution and noise on urban
territories

• Based on available data, it is estimated that mobile
sources are the largest contributor of air pollutants,
particularly PM2.5, in large urban centers in Pakistan.
• estimates indicate that the road transport sector is
responsible for 85% of PM2.5 total emissions and 72%
of the PM10 emissions. While other sectors,
particularly industry, also contribute to Pakistan’s
severe urban air pollution, preliminary estimates
indicate that the vast majority of PM emissions stem
from the road transportation sector

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION
The stopping and starting in traffic jams burns fuel at a
higher rate than the smooth rate of travel on the open
highway. This increase in fuel consumption costs
commuters additional money for fuel and it also
contributes to the amount of emissions released by the
vehicles. These emissions create air pollution and are
related to global warming.

Economic impact
Drivers who encounter
unexpected traffic may be late
for work or other appointments,
causing a loss in productivity for
businesses and in the drivers'
personal lives. Traffic delays
may also slow down the
shipping of cargo if delivery
trucks can't remain on schedule
due to a congested route.
Drivers who know that traffic
congestion is likely may decide
to forgo an activity altogether,
leading to less consumer
spending and lower event
attendance.

Monetary loss/economic cost due to
congestion
• Traffic jams cost Moscow USD 1.3 billion a year.
• Traffic congestion costs the South African business USD 18 billion a year.
• Traffic congestion in Dhaka eats up USD 3 billion a year.
• Traffic Congestion cost of US cities ranges between USD 35 billion to USD
48 billion. US loses roughly 2 % of GNP in traffic congestion
• UK loses 5 % of GNP
‘Rs200bn lost to traffic congestion
every year’
The annual cost of traffic congestion
on Karachi’s roads comes to about
Rs200 billion, an amount equal to
1.5pc of Pakistan’s total GDP (Gross
Domestic Product), a study conducted
by the NED University of Engineering
and Technology has found
Apart from vexation that traffic jams
cause, they also hurt the economy in a
bad way. A study conducted in Lahore
in Department of Economics of Lahore
University of Management Sciences
presented its research on economic
loss due to traffic congestion found
that traffic congestion costs Rs. 47.9
million a year. The results were
concluded based on a survey
conducted in an area of 1.1 kilometers.

Air pollution is associated with increased respiratory illness and
premature mortality. By 2005, the direct cost of the damage
associated with outdoor air pollution was estimated at 1.1% of
Pakistan’s GDP or US$1.07 billion These costs include estimates
from premature mortality and morbidity associated with
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, lower respiratory illness
(LRI) in children, and other minor related costs.
However, when indirect costs, such as the well-known effects of
air pollution-related illnesses on education, malnutrition, and
earnings, are taken into account, the damage cost of ambient air
pollution could be even higher (World Bank 2008a).

Delay
The first thing many people think of when it comes to
congested roadways is the delay. During the morning there is
additional stress because delays caused by traffic can make
people late for work. And at the end of the day, the afternoon
rush hour is again a frustrating time because the workday is
done and people want to get home to relax, and traffic is
preventing it.
Reduction in
transport speeds

Encouraging mass transit
• One beneficial effect of traffic congestion is its ability to encourage
drivers to consider other transportation options. In cities with
frequent traffic congestion, individuals often choose a subway, light
rail or bus service. These options reduce traffic on the roads, have
less of an environmental impact and reduce the stress associated
with driving in heavy traffic.
• Wasting time of motorists and passengers
• As a non-productive activity for most people, congestion reduces
regional economic health.
• Wear and tear on vehicles as a result of idling in traffic and
frequent acceleration and braking, leading to more frequent repairs
and replacements.

“A decrease in road capacities, or better, an increase in
mass transit shift car users to buses and can therefore
decrease total travel times.
Martin J. H. Mogridge(1940 -2000), U.K. Transportation
Analyst

Social
As a driver you have
both a legal and
moral responsibility
towards yourself,
your passengers and
other road users

Emergency vehicle
• blocked traffic may interfere with the passage of emergency
vehicles traveling to their destinations where they are
urgently needed.
• When we request a police officer, an ambulance or a fire truck
and the emergency vehicle is unable to respond in an
appropriate amount of time because of traffic congestion it
can be a danger to you and your property.

Road rage
• Aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an
automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior
might include rude gestures, verbal insults,
deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening
manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to
altercations, assaults, and collisions which result in
injuries and even deaths

Traffic Congestion & Road accidents
• 1.2 million people are killed in road
accidents every year.
• Over speed resulting from time lost in traffic
jams is a major cause for road accidents.
• At least 120,000 lives can be saved, every year,
if traffic congestions are reduced

What can you do as a driver to reduce your risk?
• Leave extra time for your Journey during the holidays
• Do not get upset with the bad driving behavior of other drivers- focus on
your own driving
• Do not over-speed - this will not shorten your journey but may shorten your
life and the lives of others
• Plan your journey to avoid peak times
• Keep a safe distance at all times
• Don’t get distracted by mobile phones or anything else.
3 – Second gap
Be able to see the tyres and tarmac
While Driving
When Stopping

Always keep calm
Causes of stress Remedies
Behaviour of other drivers Leave space and time, be tolerant and
don’t get upset
Traffic congestion Leave extra time for your journey
Passengers (Children) Entertainment
Poor vehicle handling Conduct pre journey checks
Weather conditions Leave more time for your journey
Mobile phones Switch off or keep them on silent
mode
Running late Leave more time for your journey, pull
in and call to say you will be late
It is better to arrive late than not at all
Reminder Driving Tips!

How to reduce Traffic Congestion
• Infrastructure development.
• Express highways to be built.
• Private participation in road development.
• Reduction of Junctions.
• Widening of busy roads.
• More public transport systems.
• Expand Railway network.
• Implement Metro Rails in Metros and big cities.
• Promote railways.
• Urban planning and design.
• Reversible lanes ( certain sections of highway
• Free / subsidized public transport systems

COUNTER MEASURE
I. Road Infrastructure
II. Urban Planning and Design
III. Supply and Demand
IV. Traffic management

ROAD INFRA STRUCTURE
Using bridges or tunnel freeing movement from
having to stop for other crossing movement.
Signaling
Reducing Junction
Reversible Lanes
Separate lane for specific user group.

Urban planning and design
• City planning and urban design practices can have a
huge impact on levels of future traffic congestion,
though they are of limited relevance for short-term
change.
• residential and commercial areas
• designed to maximize access to public transport by
providing a transit station or stop (train station ,metro
station, tram stop or bus stop).

SUPPLY AND DEMAND
“Congestion can be reduced by either
increasing road capacity (supply) or
by reducing traffic (demand).”
Congestion can be reduced by either increasing road capacity (supply), or
by reducing traffic (demand).
Increased supply can include:
Removing Bridge Supports:
Adding more capacity (more lanes at the expense of hard shoulder or
safety zones, or by removing local obstacles like bridge supports and
widening tunnels)
Adding more lanes:
Adding more capacity over the whole of a route (generally by adding more
lanes)
Creating new routes:
Adding more capacity by adding more routes to important destinations

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
• Traffic reporting:-via radio, GPS and mobile apps,
to advise road users.
• Traffic counter:- to provide real-time traffic counts.
• Parking guideline and information:- systems
providing dynamic advice to motorists about free
parking.
• Identify “pedestrian only” zones.
• Building new infrastructure.
• One way streets to speed traffic flow.
• Schools opening and closing times.

Others:
Parking restriction
Making motor vehicle use less attractive by increasing
the monetary and non-monetary costs of parking.
Introducing
greater competition for limited city or road space.
Road pricing
Charging money for access onto a road/specific area
at certain times, congestion levels or for certain road
users.
Online shopping promotion
It reduces the additional shopping trip.

ISSUES IN IMLEMENTATION
• Longer time span to eradicate
• Difficult to rebuild infrastructure
• Huge cost required to educate people
• No any regulatory body
• Required educated vigilant workforce

Traffic congestion and its hazards

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