Between 1950 and 1990, passenger vehicle miles grew at an astonishing rate of 4.2 percent a year. In California, vehicle use grew more than four times faster than population growth from 1970 to 1990. The end result of all this driving is that our air quality has suffered. If present rates of automobile use continue, the Environmental Protection Agency predicts that air quality gains made through technological improvements, such as catalytic converters, and regulation will be eroded within the next eight years. The rise in air pollution due to more driving is creating a serious public health threat.
Air pollution is a major contributor to lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema.
More than 4 million Californians have lung disease, which is a leading cause of death in America and growing faster than almost any other leading killer. The Smart Growth movement has grown out of these concerns. The American Lung Association has joined forces with the Local Government Commission and a variety of groups interested in transportation, land use, and air quality issues. These groups are working together to ensure that communities grow smartly instead of sprawling, with the least impact on the environment. Research has shown that compact, pedestrian and transit-friendly communities have a positive impact on air quality by improving travel alternatives.