The External Costs of Road Transport

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the estimation of marginal and total external costs of road transportation in Turkey in terms of accidents, air pollution, climate change, noise, and traffic congestion. The study estimates marginal external costs for cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), heavy duty vehicles (HDVs), busses, and motorcycles, which comprise total vehicle fleet stock of the Turkish road transport sector. The researchers reviewed the literature of both local and international studies for the quantification and monetisation of the specified external costs of road transport. This will provide a base for the future studies on Turkish transport research and transport policy appraisal guidelines. The authors conclude that accidents are the most important externality of road use and that local air pollution and congestion appear to be more important than noise and climate change. This implies that priority should be given to road accidents, air pollution, and congestion alongside noise and global warming.