Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing Policies on Traffic Congestion, Mobility, and NO2 Pollution

Lockdowns implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were utilized to evaluate associations between “social distancing policies” (SDPs), traffic congestion, mobility, and NO2 air pollution. Spatiotemporal linear mixed models used on city-day data from 22 US cities estimate SDPs, congestion mobility. Autoregressive integrated moving average with Fourier terms then historical forecast expected 2020 NO2. Time series subsequently employed measure how much reductions in local associated lower-than-forecasted Finally, equity of pollution was assessed community-level sociodemographics. When cities’ most stringent SDPs implemented, they observed a 23.47 (95% CI: 18.82–28.12) percent reduction daily 13.48 10.36–16.59) decrease mobility compared unrestricted days. For each standard deviation (8.38%) decreased by 1.37 1.24–1.51) parts per billion relative its forecasted value. Citizenship, education, race elevated absolute levels but not detectibly This illustrates immediate behavioral environmental impacts pandemic.