Transport, particularly the motor vehicle, is a major contributor to local air pollution and greenhouse gases. However, urban air quality in Australia has improved over the past ten years due to the introduction of air pollution management measures such as catalytic converters on all new cars and the introduction of unleaded petrol.

In South Australia transport contributes around 70% of the air pollution in the Adelaide area, principally carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen.

Transport SA uses a computer model to predict the emission impact when planning road developments which uses

• traffic and site data
• meteorological data
• vehicle composition - type, age and fuel type.

We are constantly refining the information we use to better understand the contribution of motor vehicles to local air quality.

Transport SA works with both federal and state government agencies and the community to address air quality issues. For further information visit these pages: Vehicle and Fuel Standards, TravelSmart SA. There are also actions the community can take to improve air quality in Adelaide, see: What the community can do.