Thailand to ban personal car use to reduce air pollution
The Thai government is considering whether to impose a ban on personal car use in affected areas to cope with high levels of hazardous ultra-fine PM2.5 dust particles in the air if levels exceed 100 microgrammes per cubic metre, twice the safety level.
The sun sets in Bangkok sky shrouded by thick smog on January 21. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai government is considering whether toimpose a ban on personal car use in affected areas to cope with high levels ofhazardous ultra-fine PM2.5 dust particles in the air if levels exceed 100microgrammes per cubic metre, twice the safety level.
The proposal was unveiled by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha following acabinet meeting in Narathiwat province.
Prayut said only public transport services will be allowed to use the roadsduring a ban. However the draconian measure would only be employed on acase-by-case basis to avoid an unnecessarily negative impact.
He stressed that traffic emissions are the primary source of PM2.5, followed bybiomass burning and industrial emissions. Therefore, the government has begunworking on a long-term master plan to combat pollution which includes thedevelopment of electric rail network and replacing diesel-powered public buseswith electric ones.
Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa,said if measures against lorries emitting black smoke prove to be insufficient,personal cars could be targeted next as 72 percent of the PM2.5 dust particlescome from traffic emissions.
Thick and unhealthy smog has plagued various localities in Thailand from thebeginning of the month. According to the Pollution Control Department, as of6pm on January 21, PM2.5 ranged from 71 to 86 microgrammes per cubic metre inseveral areas of Bangkok, while the highest level nationally was 99microgrammes per cubic metre in Na Phralan commune in Chaloam Phrakiat districtof Saraburi./.
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The sun sets in Bangkok sky shrouded by thick smog on January 21. (Photo: bangkokpost.com) 
