TOWN OF MOUNT ROYAL, QC, Dec. 13, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Mayors of the 15 Montreal island suburban cities agree with their residents that there are benefits to be realized through the authorization of right turns on red, namely, improved traffic flow, time savings for road users, better air quality and lower healthcare costs.
Robert Coutu, Georges Bourelle and Philippe Roy, speaking on behalf of the 15 Mayors of the Montreal island suburban cities, pointed out that there are nearly two million vehicles on the Island of Montreal and that, in 2011, the World Health Organization found that Montreal had 60 days of poor air quality a year, ranking it as the second worst in Canada in this respect.
According to the Ministry of Transport, 62% of the contaminants found in the atmosphere are related to road traffic. Burning a single litre of gasoline releases up to 2.29 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air.
"When motorists have to wait for a red light to change to green instead of being allowed to make a right turn, they waste time and gasoline and needlessly pollute the environment," said Mayors Coutu, Bourelle and Roy.
The Canadian Medical Association determined that air pollution costs more than $300 million a year and is responsible for 30,000 medical consultations in Canada. Any steps that can be taken to help improve the flow of traffic and multimodalism in transportation produce benefits for the population as a whole.
"All of us have had the experience of having to stop at a traffic light when the intersection is free of other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists – and it would have been perfectly safe to make a right turn. Sustainable development requires us to act in ways that will improve road traffic performance while ensuring the safety of every person," stated the three Mayors speaking on behalf of the 15 Montreal island suburban cities.
SOURCE Association of Suburban Municipalities
Astérisme, Public Relations and Communication, Jean Maurice Duddin, [email protected], 514-771-5777
Share this article