EMISSIONS from vehicle engines are forcing pedestrians to inhale the equivalent of up to 30 cigarettes a day in the most polluted areas of major cities.

The oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the air in some areas of London, such as Marylebone Road, equal the levels in a packet-and-a-half of cigarettes according to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA).

It claims that LPG could help solve the problem, and that if all London's taxi cabs ran on the green fuel instead of diesel, about 3,000 tonnes of soot a year would not be emitted.

Andrew Ford of the LPGA, said: 'Public authorities must take the lead and as a matter of urgency investigate the wider use of cleaner road fuels.'

Ford claimed that until the advent of zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen, cleaner fuels such as LPG should be a key part of a clean fleet policy. He added: 'It's clear that road traffic pollution has a major impact on air quality and any measures to tackle this must be welcomed.'

Pollution fact file :

· The average adult breathes six litres of air a minute.

· Annual mean pollution on Marylebone Road: 0.1mg per litre of NOx 0.1mg X 6 litres = 0.6mg of NOx inhaled each minute.

· To inhale the equivalent 29mg for one cigarette takes 48 minutes 24 hours/48 minutes - 30 cigarettes.

Fleet News Net

The company representative, who has not been prosecuted, was on hold to his bank when he hit Timothy Sanders at about 70mph in his Peugeot.

A court was told: 'The driver had been on the phone for some minutes, but at the material time he stated he was not actually speaking to anyone, merely waiting for his call to be transferred to someone else.'

The £9 million payout is thought to be the highest awarded to a British citizen by an English court and raises concerns of whether hands-free kits should be made illegal. Lawyers representing the driver's company insurers admitted that using the phone had played a part in the accident.

Sanders' solicitor, Simon Holt, said: 'This case shows the inherent danger of people making telephone calls while driving even if they have a hands-free system. The driver was never prosecuted but it was our case that using the phone had to have been a distraction or he would have seen Timothy.'

The judge approved a payment of £250,000 a year for life, alongside a £1.1 million lump sum, which could total more than £9 million during Sanders' lifetime. The funds will be used to pay for around-the-clock care. Although his brain is working perfectly, Sanders has been left immobile, unable to breathe, move, speak, eat or swallow on his own, requiring 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

From December 1 it will be illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Drivers will be charged a fixed penalty of £30 and three penalty points or a fine on conviction of up to £1,000 (Fleet NewsNet September 19). Hands-free mobiles are not affected by the legislation.

Fleet News Net

Dirty marks, mud or dust on your reflector strips, pedal reflector & cycle lights? *

Use some damp kitchen paper to wipe the dirt off and wipe them again with some dry kitchen paper. Repeat regularly throughout autumn and winter for clean, shiny reflectors and cycle lights.

* at your own risk

Anyone who is interested in cycling and cycling hisotry- or who enjoys sometimes unusual articles or letters - can buy the magazine for £2.50 an issue.

* Temporarily at 77 Troy Close, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7SQ - Telephone 01865 770 770.

Derek Roberts

Then don’t suffer in the dark!

To contact Merton council to repair the faulty street lamposts / traffic lights either phone or email:

020 8545 3220 / 3829,

020 7941 2345