Transportation Principles

TRANSPORTATION PRINCIPLES

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

One of the most `significant ' transportation industry issues is the threat the industry poses to the environment in terms of pollution

Pollution in this industry is affected by gas-emissions from motor vehicles , trains and aircrafts . Sound pollution is another form of pollution particularly emanating from large vehicles and heavy aircrafts

Both air and sound pollution is an `important ' issue as it affects the lives of human beings in one way or another . Air pollution for instance is the Linchpin of several deaths owing to its dangerous

side effects Motor vehicles emit substances such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter . Certain greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide also get their way to the air from motor emissions

Marine pollution is another issue concerned with marine transport . Oil spillages are the most common . This mostly happens during marine accidents . Other toxic materials such as metal scrapings from ships pose danger to the marine life . Not only does shipping toxify the oceans and seas but also contributes in emitting harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide . Ships are also a good source of noise pollution that interferes with marine life

Oil spilt by ships can last for quite a long period of time before completely drying up . This kind of pollution can be hazardous to those economies dependent on agriculture especially fish export as a source of foreign exchange . Other kinds of ships like the cruise ships are capable of generating voluminous gallons of sewage into the waters with detrimental effects

PROPOSAL ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE LEGISLATIONS

Governments can effect legislations to curb both transportation-related pollution and its effects . Laws can be put in place as to the amount of smog or level of pollution as a whole that can be sought for motor vehicle propulsion apart from the harmful gasoline . The latter form of legislation can be in the form of emission standards whereby pollutants are regulated

HYBRID VEHICLES AND AIRPLANES

Hybrid vehicles are those that use both the internal combustion engine and an energy storage mechanism that is rechargeable . Other hybrid cars can be manufactured that can be propelled using electricity . These vehicles can greatly reduce air pollution

Hybrid planes on the other hand use an internal engine (combustion ) that not only increases efficiency in the fuel usage but can also lower down the rate of emission of toxic substances . The engine is also light thus making the aircraft light . The plane can then fly into far places thereby reducing noise pollution

MARINE POLLUTION TREATIES

In to curb or even reduce marine transport pollution , treaties to regulate the menace can be formed . These would foresee the disposal of wastes and other toxic materials into the sea , noise and air pollutants Instead of first concentrating on the features of marine pollution , the treaties and conventions can instead look on the possible or real marine pollution causes and how these can be eliminated

Laws should also be in place regulating the volume of cargo that a ship can carry at any period of time to avoid incidences such as oil spillages by the ships

EDUCATING PEOPLE ON EFFECTS OF AUTO-MOBILE NOISE POLLUTION

Through the media i .e . radio , television and newss , awareness can be created both on the effects and prevention of motor noise pollution Noise pollution is a problem especially in the commercial transport industry where loud music is used to woo passengers into using a particular vehicle

Further , they can use sound proof equipments like carpets in their vehicles that can absorb sound . Other common causes of noise pollution in the transportation industry include incessant car hooting especially in the congested urban and residential areas . To counter this , a reduction of the flow of traffic in residential areas can be effective It would also be ideal for motorists to plan their journey early in advance to avoid hurrying and hooting . Alternatively , car hooting (too much of it ) can be banned altogether and such legislations be incorporated into the traffic act

ILLEGALISING UNROADWORTHY CARS

Noise pollution is likely to come from old , unroadworth cars . As such such cars can be banned from the roads . They are also a good source of dangerous emissions owing to their status

Consequently , maximum levels of decibels (units of measuring sound ) can be put in place to regulate not only car noise pollution but also marine and air

A country can also recognise noise pollution as a form of nuisance , an offence that is punishable in a court of law

REPAIR OF VEHICLES AND AIR-CRAFTS

To avoid pollution (especially noise ) at night , vehicles , ships and aircrafts should be constructed and repaired during day time . Same applies when these `vehicles ' are taken for `road ' tests

DECLARING CERTAIN ACTS AS NUISANCE PUNISHABLE IN A COURT OF LAW

Certain acts should be treated as nuisance and anyone found guilty of violating such provisions be charged in a court of law . These include :-

1 . Security alarms : - Arousing a security alarm for more than a specified time period

2 . Horns : - Incessant hooting or any form of motor car signalling unless such is done in emergency situations

3 . Cargo loading and offloading : - Marine cargo loading and unloading should be done professionally without breaching peace . Anyone found rattling crates and other containers should be punished especially at night

4 . Loudspeakers : - Loudspeaker mounted on motor- vehicles , ships and aircrafts should be banned

WHY THE PROPOSAL WILL WORK

In to curb most of the issues raised above , a lot of emphasis is on legislation . No one would like to find himself on the wrong side of the law . And because of this , people will strive to ensure that they commit no form of pollution in the transportation industry

Hybrid cars have worked in many parts of the world as possible solutions to the problem of pollution . These include the USA and several parts of Europe . It is a realistic and achievable modality of tackling the menace

It is a common sense phenomenon that thick materials like carpets , rugs e .t .c . absorb sound . They are thus the most ideal to use in the transport industry to curb noise pollution

REFERENCES

Piet Rietveld , Barriers to sustainable Transport Institutions , Taylor Francis , 2004

Gubbins Edmund , Managing Transport operations , Kogan page , 2003

Bruce Logan , Environmental Transport processes , Kogan page , 2004

Ronald E Hester , Harrison Roy Transport and the Environment , Royal Society of Chemistry , 2004

Gold Edgar , Maritime Transport , Lexington Books , 2000

Gubbins Edmund , Managing Transport operations , Kogan page , 2003

Piet Rietveld , Barriers to sustainable Transport Institutions , Taylor Francis , 2004

Gold Edgar , Maritime Transport , Lexington Books , 2000 Ronald E Hester , Harrison Roy Transport and the Environment , Royal Society of Chemistry , 2004

Bruce Logan , Environmental Transport processes , Kogan page , 2004 ...