Is the High-Emission Vehicle Driving Area Restriction Policy an Effective Measure for Reducing Driving Distance? A Case Study of Busan, South Korea

Hyeinn Song, Kangwon Shin () and Fady M. A. Hassouna
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Hyeinn Song: Department of Information & Statistics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Kangwon Shin: Department of Urban Engineering, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea
Fady M. A. Hassouna: Civil and Architectural Engineering Department, An-Najah National University, Nablus P.O. Box 7, Palestine

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Efforts to reduce air pollution by facilitating the transition to eco-friendly vehicles, particularly through driving restriction policies targeting high-emission vehicles (HEVs), play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. Evaluating the effectiveness of the restriction in terms of reducing HEV driving mileage is essential for policy assessment and improvement. Moreover, given the overall decreasing trend in daily vehicle mileage, it remains uncertain whether the change in HEV driving distance can be directly attributed to the restriction policy. This study directly examines the effectiveness of the vehicle restriction policy using vehicle mileage data and a DID model. Data on daily mileage from 2019, 2021, and 2023 were collected for Busan, and the scenarios were divided into six groups based on the analysis group (treatment group is HEVs subject to vehicle restrictions, control A is HEVs not subject to vehicle restrictions and control B is non-HEVs) and the area of influence (catchment area, city area, and metropolitan area). The analysis revealed that while there was a reduction in daily mileage for HEVs when compared to each other, the decrease was modest, and no significant effect was observed when compared to non-HEVs. Consequently, it was confirmed that the impact of the vehicle restriction policy on reducing daily mileage is marginal. In light of the policy to expand the scope of vehicles subject to driving restrictions in South Korea, it is recommended that the number of enforcement cameras be increased, that enforcement hours be extended to an entire 24-h day, and more stringent enforcement measures be implemented.

Keywords: driving area restriction; high-emission vehicles; vehicle mileage; difference-in-difference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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