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Thu 3 Jul 2025
Air pollutants on UK pavements generated by diesel cars could be slashed by a third if car exhausts were positioned on the right, according to new research.
University of York researchers recently conducted a study into air pollution exposure among pavement users in urban environments.
They analysed which factors – such as the amount of exhaust from vehicles, what’s contained in that exhaust, and how it moves through the air – influence near-road traffic-related air pollution (TRAP).
Using advanced ‘plume regression techniques’, they modelled concentrations of pollutants, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx), under different conditions.
The researchers made an interesting discovery relating to the exhaust pipe position: diesel cars with left-sided exhaust pipes released 40% higher pollution concentrations than right-sided exhausts.
In the UK, where vehicles drive on the left side of the road, exhausts are typically positioned on the right, the side furthest from the pavement or kerbside.
However, currently only 20.1% of diesel passenger cars in the UK have right-sided exhausts.
The researchers calculated that if all diesel cars in the UK were equipped with right-sided exhausts, it could cut kerbside contribution to NOx pollution levels generated by these vehicles by one-third.
Another unexpected discovery revealed the benefits that electric vehicles (EVs) have on kerbside pollution.
EVs were found to actively dilute the exhaust plumes of nearby fossil-fuelled vehicles through a phenomenon known as vehicle-induced turbulence. This helps to reduce kerbside TRAP exposure for pedestrians and cyclists.
Professor David Carslaw, lead author of the study from the department of chemistry at the University of York, said: “These findings demonstrate that even seemingly small details in vehicle design can have a substantial impact on air pollution close to roads.
“The data on tailpipe placement offers a tangible and relatively simple modification that manufacturers could implement to reduce roadside pollution.
“The ‘accidental’ benefit of EVs in diluting existing pollution adds another compelling reason to accelerate their adoption.”
The researchers hope their research will provide politicians and the automotive industry with a new way of thinking about how to tackle the health challenges posed by traffic pollution.
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