We create real-time roadside displays illustrating pollution levels at busy junctions and crossroads. I own a wine shop in south east London, where the pollution levels are regularly 55mg. The legal level is 40. I think if there was an electronic board which showed what that day’s pollution was, and what that meant, people would take notice. Similar to the smiley face traffic speed signs, the display could give Nitrogen Dioxide levels, blue when safe, red when over the legal limit, and a sad/indifferent/smiley face could reflect PM levels, and give some common sense context for what the numbers mean. Initially people might not understand, but once they’ve seen them a few times they may research them or hear about them. Once they realise what they mean, I think sitting in a traffic jam (maybe with your children) knowing that you are sitting in illegal/high levels of pollution, and contributing to them, it will start to connect people’s abstract understanding of air pollution and the reality. They could be implemented all over the country, particularly in places with high levels of air pollution, and start a conversation which is harder to ignore than invisible air pollution.
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