Publish Date: 13 January 2009 - 16:46

TEHRAN, Jan.13 (MNA) -- Deputy head of Traffic Police on Tuesday said that more than 70 percent of vehicles in Tehran are single passenger.

Kamal Hadian-Far described the new gasoline ration, the large number of cars hitting the streets every day, and the shortage of public transportation as the main reasons behind the increase in number of single passenger cars in Tehran.

    

According to Hadian-Far, 60 percent of Tehranis’ commutes are made by private cars.

 

In a bid to bring back the clear skies, traffic restriction have been introduced in the metropolis, Hadian-Far said.

 

Traffic restriction zone and restricting citizens to using their cars on alternate days are parts of the fight against the capital’s pollution and congestion, Hadian-Far said, adding “the new rules reduced the average road traffic flow by 20 percent in the zones.   

 

A comprehensive project for traffic management covers approximately 22 square kilometers of the city center from 6:30AM to 5:00PM everyday. Only public vehicles and those with a permit can enter the traffic restriction zone during these hours.

 

Traffic congestion contributes to air pollution and environmental damage.

 

Motor vehicles are the main contributor to air pollution. Bearing in mind that every bus full of passengers removes 40 cars from traffic, one of the best ways to improve air quality is to get people out of their single-passenger cars and into public transportation.

 

SN/

MNA

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