Tieliikenteen haitalliset terveys- ja ympäristövaikutukset

During the last decades, traffic has increased vastly and landarea reserved for cars is increasing continuously. Areas where children can play and observe life freely are diminished. In the years 1970-88, an average of 740 persons died and 12000 were injured in road traffic in Finland. The mortal risk of time spent in road traffic is 11-12 times higher than being at work. Road traffic is the most remarkable source of environment noise. In 1987 about one million finns lived in areas, where traffic noise was at least 55 dB. Using a car has often replaced the habit of going to work actively by walking or by cycling. The traffic system based on fossil fuel is a remarkable source for greenhouse gases. About 40% of oil used in Finland is consumed in traffic. The health effects of the greenhouse effect are associated with floods, nutrition, drinking water and vector-borne diseases. Many disadvantages of motor vehicles are more critical in the Third World than in the developed countries even if the number of cars in the Third World is still low.