Thai transport sector against temporary ban on trucks in Bangkok
(retirement bonus / Shutterstock.com)
The Land Transportation Federation and the Imports-Export Transport Association strongly oppose the Bangkok City Council's ban on heavy truck traffic in the city. From December 1 to February, no trucks are allowed to drive in the capital from 6 a.m. to 21 p.m. in order to prevent the spread of particulate matter.
The federation's adviser Thongyoo wants to go to court if the municipality does not withdraw the ban. According to him, the polluting and dangerous smoke does not only come from trucks. Other vehicles, including buses, also emit toxic emissions.
He says the ban is hampering economic recovery and has serious consequences for logistics and exports, which have been hit by the coronavirus.
Earlier this month, the BMA announced the decision to reduce air pollution with PM2,5 particles in Bangkok. This is especially a problem in winter when it rains less.
A report by the PCD and the Asian Institute of Technology on PM2,5 pollution shows that 72% of Bangkok's PM2,5 comes from transport, of which 28% is from trucks. The remaining sources are pickups (21%), private cars (10%), public transportation such as buses (7%), motorcycles (5%) and minivans (1,5%). The remaining pollution comes from factories (17%) and open fires in agricultural areas plus other activities (5%).
Source: Bangkok Post
Strangely enough, burning waste (including plastic) is not listed. Then little will be built in the coming months, because there is no supply of building materials and equipment. And the supply of supermarkets will therefore come to a standstill.
All those tuk-tuks also contribute to the high particulate matter emissions, so they don't lose sight of that. They drive throughout Bangkok, including through the narrow streets and alleys, so that the fine dust is nicely collected in the laundry that is hanging to dry there. But it never hurts to think about cleaner engines for trucks instead of mounting 100 mirrors on them.
Tuk tuks all run on CNG. Thought that doesn't cause particulate emissions.
And also the taxis. Diesels are the main culprits in this case.
Kind regards, Alain
Every action always has a reaction.
But the biggest culprit are the inspection stations, they keep that feeler from the exhaust until the computer turns green. Just go and put a policeman here for a month, Then at the end of the month, he can have a house built from the money that has been allocated to him.
That's “nice” for the drivers…
May therefore drive from 2100 to 0600 hours. Are you going to get complainers again who are woken up / shaken by the heavy trucks.
And indeed, especially the buses broke out quite a bit and they drive their rounds through the city.
The problem is money. Because a truck that meets Euro 6 emissions (or comparable for Thailand / Asia) is not cheap.
Something could be done about the many smoking two-stroke engines in the city.
There are certainly new generations of Mercedes, Scanias and Volvos in Thailand with Euro-6. Only the many small private carriers, of which there are many, cannot afford them. How badly they want a Euro-6? Just have a chat with them, add photos of your car, and you'll see them dream away and you'll have a new friend. TukTuks have been running on CNG for years, some emissions but relatively clean. Baht buses are a disaster.
At my inspection station it is done as it should be.
Measuring probe in the exhaust
Ben
Everything, as always, can be traced back to the same thing.
It makes no sense at all to impose rules and measurement values if there is no proper and reliable control of the implementation, or of the people who carry out the control.
Good plan. Under the motto you have to start somewhere. The argument for not doing it is not that it is not too bad, but “others” also pollute. Beats. They should too. Doing nothing is not an option, was in BKK last winter and some days you have the same sensation as if you milled a slot in a brick wall. Without a face mask…