Edinburgh Napier University

  Starting in an era where three quantifiable impacts of road transport were viewed as the sum total of impacts – casualties and air and noise pollution – from the embryo of the evolving transport and health interdisciplinary field is charted from the perspective of a UK actor in the field. A number of key events are described, from the highlighting of chronic as well as acute health impacts, the damage from sedentary car-based lifestyles, and re-appraisals of prior assumptions. The role of key agencies include the British Medical Association and the World Health Organisation as trusted brands in helping to convey new understanding as to the health impacts of road transport as the inter-disciplinary scientific field has expanded.