The 20 million people that inhabit Mexico City and its suburbs must endure smog on a daily basis. However, the city is now implementing a temporary fix to fight air pollution and bring air quality levels back to acceptable levels: a "no circulation" policy that limits the amount of cars on the roads.
Mexico City's authorities will implement this policy on Tuesday, which will prohibit privately-owned cars from using the roads one day per week, as well as an additional Saturday per month. The city plans to keep this rule in effect until late June, when regular rainy weather improves air quality.
Will this "no circulation" policy work in the fight against air pollution? Mexico City has had similar laws in place since the 1980s, but they have failed to work, in addition to failures in other areas of the world, leading many to suggest that this new policy will meet the same fate.
The biggest reason for the failure of these policies is the fact that they are a hassle. They force people to take public transportation more often, which is slow and inconvenient, and it doesn't help that buses in Mexico City have a reputation of being uncomfortable and dangerous.
In addition to the downfalls of public transportation, research has shown that these programs actually lead to more air pollution in the long-term. When faced with public transportation, many families find other ways to use cars, such as investing in a second one with a different license plate or using taxis, Uber or Lyft.
"I just think that once people become drivers in Mexico City they don't go back," said Lucas Davis, who conducted a study on this phenomenon.
The downside of these policies begs the question of why authorities continue to implement them.
"The Mexico City politicians want action," Davis said. "They see a problem and politicians want to do something. These driving restriction make them feel like they are doing something."
In order to fix the problems of previous policies, the new "no circulation" law has no exemptions for vehicles that pass smog-checks in an attempt to combat those who would pay-off mechanics to deem their car passable in terms of emissions.
Davis believes that Mexico City's "no circulation" method of combating air pollution can work, but it will require an effort to close loopholes and invest in more modern technology.
"It could be done - we are there technologically we are just not there politically," he said.
