If today have you ever circulated by the M30 sure that you have found a speed of the traffic is abnormally reduced. Indeed, the reduction to 70 km/h for the M30 and access roads from the M40 has been a reality today when you reach the Stage 1 alert of contamination contemplated by the rules of the city Hall of Madrid which entered into force on 1 may of this year. The levels of NO2 start to be dangerous in the capital.
That Madrid has a serious problem of contamination was not surprising to anyone, but have been boosted by a anticyclone that has high temperatures, together with the absence of rain and winds that will alleviate the dreaded pollution. For this reason, we have already reached a dangerous episode of pollution, which will have its consequences in the circulation of the vehicles with respect.
do you really have achieved such high levels of NO2?
Paris also restricts the traffic
The minimum level stipulated measured by the measuring stations spread over the Madrid 200 micrograms/m3 of NO2. Specifically, the first level of warning is triggered when two stations in the same area exceed that number for two hours straight. Well, yesterday in Madrid 10 stations that exceeded limit of of 200 micrograms/m3 of NO2.
we’re talking peaks of up to 424 µg/m3 of NO2 in the station of Ramón y Cajal, at 20:00 hours yesterday. The station Schools Aguirre almost reached 300, as the Four Roads. Are levels that could almost be worth to activate the Alert level.
What is the protocol?
The protocol that defines the City of Madrid in episodes of high pollution is fairly straightforward, and fairly critical on this occasion. It all starts with a Notice when two stations in the same area not exceeding 200 micrograms of NO2 during two consecutive hours. It follows the Notice, defined by two stations of the same area above 250 micrograms/m3 of NO2 for two consecutive hours.
The next and final level, the Warning occurs when three stations from the same area exceed 400 micrograms of NO2 over three consecutive hours. From here we created several possible scenarios, five specifically, while we currently immersed in the Scenario 1.
Starting from a Stage 0 that only provides for information measures, the consequences begin with the Scenario 1. Is activated when two consecutive days in level of notice or a day at Warning level. Implement the information measures level 2 and the restriction of traffic Phase 1. This restriction means that restricts the maximum speed to 70 km/h on M30 and access roads from the M40.
Scenario 2 is somewhat more complicated, because in addition to the Stage 1 measures are even more restrictive. With three consecutive days of notice or two consecutive days of notice, will trigger the information measures level 2 and 3. In addition, it encourages the use of public transport and active the Phase 2 restriction of traffic. This is that it prohibits the parking spaces and hours of BE in the interior of the M30. In addition to clear of continuing to limit the maximum speed on M30 and access roads.
Scenario 3 continues to add restrictions with three consecutive days of Warning level. Activate the information measures 2 and 3 and the restrictions of traffic Phase 3. With this in hand, they can only circulate through the central core of Madrid the vehicles with registration odd or even depending on the day. In addition to all of the above.
There is a Stage 4, or stage of Alert that arrives when you reach the Alert level. In this way, the restriction of traffic Stage 4 it could also prevent the circulation of the 50% of the vehicles on the M30.
how to Reduce the speed really works?
Being immersed in the Scenario 1 with a restriction of traffic of Phase 1, in Madrid today will be able to get the M30 and the access roads from the M40 to a maximum speed of 70 km/h, from 90 km/h common. The City of Madrid is supported in studies that indicate that a , reducing the speed reduces the pollutant emissions of the vehicles. In addition, we have provided numerous mobile radars that advocate for the enforcement of this exception.
studies indicate that the slight increase in speed can result in an increase of NO2 dramatically. Some of the above-mentioned studies advertise that they raise the maximum speed of the road in close to 20 km/h that we have seen, assumes a increase emissions of NO2 of around 15%.
The problem is the configuration that today lives in Madrid. The highest population density of Madrid is situated in the central core, in the so-called Zone 1. However, everything indicates that until a 60% of the vehicles circulating in Madrid from the outside. . In other words, the model of transport in Madrid should worry about the students or workers who develop their work in Madrid but who do not reside in it.
Would have to analyze too many data and details to truly know if reducing the speed reduces the problem of contamination. But with these data in hand, if one of the keys to reducing the pollution is the use public transport, should raise some serious rapid evolution of the transports that go to the suburbs. Wow, that just seems like a mere patch to a problem that is going to keep happening. And it’s growing.
And what about tomorrow?
Many are concerned of what is happening today, you have to reduce the speed by 20 km/h on the M30. But, what about tomorrow? This episode of high contamination is due, in part, to the weather conditions that we have been living these days, a few conditions that do not seem likely to change. At least until next week.
For this reason, it is more than likely tomorrow, let’s take the Scenario 2 active, where it is impossible to park to non-residents in area BEING inside the M30. The Scenario 1 which we live has been given for two consecutive days of level of notice, and nothing seems to indicate that you are not going to suffer a third consecutive day, which leads us to Scenario 2.
This second Scenario, in reality, would be the more relieve to the city, since it would avoid many of the workers or students from the suburbs to access to Madrid by car. There would be an incentive so the public transport, a service that needs to expand hours, services and probably reduce rates for which the measure is really effective.