Vehicle emissions on the rise again

A short while ago Herbert Messina Ferrante commented on the farcical situation that exists regarding the apparent lack of control on vehicle emissions (August 28). Our environment NGO, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) had in fact tried to take up the matter with the ADT some time earlier, however our calls were not followed up. We wrote to their website and an OPM official eventually returned the call, promising that someone else from ADT would phone back. They never did. We eventually got hold of the ADT spokeman's e-mail address and sent in these questions:

"Some time ago the ADT launched its 'reporting of vehicle emissions' campaign by the public. Although many felt that the police and wardens were abdicating their responsibilities and had reduced the public to snitching on each other, many reluctantly cooperated, for the sake of improving our air quality. In fact there was a marked improvement in the number of offending vehicles as soon as the campaign was launched.

"However we have noticed and also received many reports that the level of vehicle emissions is on the rise again. This is also borne out by letters in the media. Although the ADT is still receiving SMS reports, it seems that that these have decreased somewhat, most probably due to people forgetting or giving up hope on seeing the situation improve. This is understandable given that no one ever actually sees vehicles being pulled up for exhaust tests although it is patently obvious that certain makes of cars are the worst offenders, many the result of the importation of second-hand cars from the Far East. Trucks and buses remain the worst offenders, choking motorists and pedestrians alike with their clouds of toxic exhaust, apparently exempt from any regulations."

To date, FAA has not received any reply to its queries. Still, we are sure that come Car Free Day we shall witness the same charade of ministers on bus-stops waiting for public buses this one day a year, while our children have to inhale buses' exhaust fumes every day of the year, thanks to official reluctance to tackle the situation.

To conclude by answering Dr Messina Ferrante's question as to what "so-called environmentalists" are doing about this situation, we would suggest that, faced with a situation like this, we should all consider ourselves environmentalists, including him. It is not just environmental activists, but each and every member of the public who should be demanding to know what is being done to safeguard their health from vehicle emissions which can not only cause respiratory illness but also render one more vulnerable to lung cancer.