Transport planning too focused on safety is causing air pollution that contributes to the deaths of 15-30 times the amount of people killed in road traffic accidents, according to new research that claimed air pollution concentrations from UK road transport have shown "little-to-no" reduction over the last two decades.

The University of the West of England research was carried out by Dr Tim Chatterton and Professor Graham Parkhurst, and is designed to stoke the debate among authorities as too how to address the issue.

"Air pollution is perhaps the grossest manifestation of a general failure of UK transport planning to take the environment impacts of transport choices sufficiently into account," said Prof. Parkhurst. "Insufficient relevant priority has been given within the sector responsible for most relevant emissions - transport policy and planning - which has instead prioritized safety and economic growth."

The research presentation to the Royal Geographical Society complained about a lack of "joined-up Government" and a strategic policy tone that continues to signal and provide for the private car as "central to national transport policy", alongside limited regulatory and financial support for local authorities looking to introduce air pollution measures such as low-emission zones.

Another key finding of the report was "belief that technical improvement would make a big difference was misplaced", in part by the emphasis on efficiency that has led to the popularity of diesel, as well as a "failure to recognize that, given the existing vehicle fleet is replaced only slowly, reduced vehicle use is the only sure way to bring about changes".  That, the researchers suggested, has led to a lack of effort into alternative strategies, such as more and consistent support for sustainable alternatives to car use.