There was an ozone advisory where I live today. That is not a surprise. When it gets to about 98 or so, more ozone is going to form at ground level. I saw a a sign on the freeway that said “Ozone Advisory. Please reduce travel, carpool or use public transit.” Of course I was then driving and 15 miles from home so it was a little late for me to stop, carpool or park and get on a bus. So what could I have done? Before I get to that, let’s have a little ozone refresher
What is Ozone?
Ozone is three atoms of oxygen joined together. That is just fine up about 10 to 30 miles where it protects us from the sun’s harmful rays, but at ground level, ozone is not a good thing. It damages plants and animals including us. For more information go to the EPA site.
How can I minimize my impact during ozone advisory periods?
There are two simple things anyone can do while in an ozone advisory.
1. Drive slower. It not only uses less fuel, but also creates less pollution and the less pollution created, the less ozone that can be created.
2. Don’t fill up. Not during the middle of the day at least. Gasoline fumes also increase ground-level ozone. And the hotter it is, the more gas will evaporate. So if you can, wait until it is later and maybe even cooler.
How should the community’s government minimize everyone’s impact during an ozone advisory period?
Here is what I think and I have to warn you, they are probably never going to happen.
1. Increase speeding ticket prices during high ozone periods. Would doubling them and increasing enforcement be enough to make everyone slow down? I know that in my neck of the woods, everyone drives at least ten miles over the speed limit on the freeway. So many people pass me when I am going 60 in a 55 I feel like I am not moving at all.
2. Increase local taxes on gas during the middle of the day. Let everyone know, of course, that there is a high ozone level and that taxes will be increased. I think 25 cents would do it. And if 25 cents doesn’t reduce gas purchasing, increase the tax again. The main problem with this is that it is not how much gas gets pumped. Every transaction has the same opportunity for gas to evaporate. So maybe it should not be a per gallon tax but a per session tax: something like a $2 cover fee.
3. Use the money from the increased taxes collected to be used for reducing or even eliminating public transportation prices for high ozone days. This would reduce traffic too and thus reduce the raw materials used in making ozone.
