Emission tests based on wrong specifications - bus owners
The Public Transport Association, which represents the bus owners, said today that while it was never against the emission testing of route buses, it could not accept the mistaken specifications being adopted by VRT stations and Transport Authority officials.
PTA president Victor Spiteri said that for these specifications to be adapted to all heavy vehicles in Malta, the last reading should be based on 2,500 revs and not 3,000 revs, since in Malta the engines of heavy vehicles did not exceed 2,500 revs except for large private cars with petrol engines.
Reacting to the report by the Malta Standards Authority on emissions testing, Mr Spiteri, said the MSA had not noted the technical mistake in the standards for the calculation of emissions from heavy vehicles, issued by the ADT.
The MSA had also not noted that equipment at VRT stations was not being used properly. He said the association was enclosing the copy of a VRT report on idle and peak RPM. He said the association was surprised to learn that the reading was based on three samples of which the last was on 3,000 revs. Yet 3,000 revs should apply for private cars and not heavy vehicles.
Mr Spiteri said the MSA should long ago have observed that the tests on the pre-1979 bus engines were too generous. Thus the government could have continued its 1995 agreement on the replacement of buses.
On the recommended introduction of seals on fuel pumps, Mr Spiteri said these already existed and were regularly inspected by the ADT.
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Philip Grech
Sep 3rd 2008, 12:50
Does any of the self-appointed experts who have nothing else to do except commentinting in your paper, know that there is not one OLD bus which still has its original engine? So it is not a question of removing the whole vehicle if it is polluting. Do these "experts" know that the new busses would fail on numerous counts if the tests were to be made as they were, lets say, 40 year ago? Just to mention a few; cushioned seats and back; all windows that open; not more than three steps; unobstructed emergency door; hanging supports at least one for every standing passenger. Need I go on?
Josef Grech
Sep 1st 2008, 23:35
May I thank Mr. Skerry and his colleagues for the invaluable work they are doing. He, along with his friends has been gathering information about Public Transport in Malta and they even publish an extremely interesting magazine. I would also like to thank all those bus enthusiasts that come to Malta to picture and gather information about buses. There are various sites on the net that deal with Public Transport in Malta and for this we have to thank foreign people! Pity that when we were in the process of replacing a lot of our old buses those interested in garaging their old vehicle were not allowed to with the result that the whole lot ended up scrapped.
D. Xuereb
Sep 1st 2008, 20:47
l-aqwa li they're proud of fiddling about with their engines and show it to everybody on the backside of their newly purchased buses (subsidised from the gov al gihna which should have his share on how they should be kept)! Disgrace Land.com
andrew caruana
Sep 1st 2008, 19:28
i think that emissions should be an on going item, not just once a year, unless a specifically
trained "traffic police men" are in place already, a unit should be created with the main focus on vehicle polutions being cars or heavy equipment, buses,trucks ,etc. if a vehicle is found to be polluting, it should be taken off the road at the end of its destination, and not put back until
the nessessary repairs are done and the pollution problem solved. as far as how fast the revs are , 2500 or 3000 rpm its immaterial , pollution is polution.
Steve Borg
Sep 1st 2008, 18:32
Many commuters seem to contend that the government should not heed to what the PTA has been saying about emissions, and other issues, but scrap existing agreements and liberalise the market.
One need not enrol Albert Einstein as an expert to realise that their wretched contraptions pollute our air. I commute from St. Anne Street in Floriana on a daily basis and I need no Humphrey Davy to verify that the buses do not leave a cloud of poisionous particles every time they go past me. One of the reasons why I cannot subscribe to this government's attitude is that when it is clear and obvious that there is a need of an overhaul in the public transport system, it simply trudges on and procrastinates to eternity.
This government lacks the vision and acumen to gather the major stakeholders, including the PTA and the citizens of Malta into executing a public transport plan that does justice to a 21st-century European-Union member state.
The bus that brought me home today, with squashed knees and knuckles, was a locally-built rickety thing with substandard, probably illegal. Where are the ISO safety specifications for our buses? PTA please stop taking Malta for a ride.
Joseph E Briffa
Sep 1st 2008, 18:20
Someone mentioned the quality of the fuel..I noticed the other day that while reversing uphill in my driveway with the driver window down, I could detect a foul and acrid smell of cheap fuel coming from my exhaust pipe; which incidentally reminded me of the exhaust fumes in Moscow way back in 1966. I would like to ask EneMalta what kind of diesel they are getting. We have every right to know and It would be nice if Enemalta were to put our mind at rest that they are not purchasing low quality diesel and petrol to cut down on expenses.. Unless I have this confirmation one will forgive me for concluding that we are not getting top quality fuel
Anton
Sep 1st 2008, 17:14
One does not need to be a VRT technician to know that at least 80% of heavy vehicles in Malta are gross polluters and unfortunately this includes public transportation. Just driving around the island behind the black clouds of smoke produced by these outdated vehicles is enough to prove the case.
Mr. Spiteri should be more concerned about the well being of the Maltese people and he should be more socially responsible when debating about revs rather than just defending their colleagues about something that is obvious to every citizen in Malta.
J.Borg
Sep 1st 2008, 16:59
How come bus owners say emissions test aren't good!
Do they really want us to believe that buses don't emit fumes.......what a joke.
Just returned from a week holiday in europe and with all the cars passing i couldn't see even one car, bus, truck,etc emitting black smoke.
How is it that in Malta everywhere you go you encounter at least 3 - 4 carsemitting black smoke from the silencer....
Could this be from the fuel we are importing or is there something wrong with these cars!
L Micallef
Sep 1st 2008, 16:47
Being a bit technical, 3,000 RPM for a bus engine is a Redline speed just as a 'standard' private car engine's 6,500 RPM.
Since when they test private cars, they press the gas pedal untill red line, the test on Buses should be more or less the same.
In this light I do not agree with Mr. Spiteri. I think that 3,000 RPM is just right.
Joanne Micallef
Sep 1st 2008, 16:43
I don’t get why we are still debating the issue here, studies have proved how harmful the emissions coming out of certain vehicles are, and we all know how prevention is better than cure, I for one am fed up with being gassed daily by most of these buses.
No matter how one tries to get around it, the bottom line is that ALL those buses who fail the emissions test must be taken off our roads. Private car owners have been subject to this from the beginning of the VRT test, why should it be any different for others.
A. Vassallo
Sep 1st 2008, 16:15
If their buses are not good for the road, these must scrap them or just put them in a stone age museum with their old colours painted on if need be.
This is 2008 and we are in the European Union. We are the worst off where it comes to public transport in theEU. Not even Rumania and Bulgaria are bad as up.
They will keep on harming our tourist industry if they are allowed to keep on operating. Get rid of them all.
L Galea
Sep 1st 2008, 15:53
@Joseph e Briffa
You are right. How many time does one hear that a new set of tyres has seen unknown numbers of buses pass the test?
@Peter Skerry
Congratulations. Good job.
Hubert Paul Farrugia
Sep 1st 2008, 15:52
mmm if old-bus drivers dont rev up more than 3000 revs, how come you cannot manage to understand a phone call or listen to a song on one's MP3 player even though the volume would be on maximum? Some sepcification modifications never fail to amaze me. It's like enlarging the meter or mile.
L Galea
Sep 1st 2008, 15:51
Whether its 3,000 rpm or not, I suggest that the responsible authorities go to hilly streets/roads, such as Savoy hill, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Mellieha, etc. etc. and do their inspections there.
If a vehicle is caught emitting smoke it should be inspected on site and if it fails the test, the owner should fix it, either by going to his own mechanic or it will be fixed by the authorities appointed mechanics at the owners expense. It must also be kept off the road until it is fixed.
The authorities should also have a look at other vehicles whose drivers enjoy joy-riding leaving half their tyres on the spot. To add insult to injury, some of them also have signs on their back windows glass with words such as "swallow my smoke" or similar words. They are also great polluters leaving a smoke-screen behind them.
Even a look at the back of the vehicle is enough for the black soot stuck on the vehicle especially near the silencer is proof that the vehicle is a sure smoker. Call such vehicles for a test and show no mercy.
Joseph e Briffa
Sep 1st 2008, 15:06
SURPRISE INSPECTIONS ARE THE BEST WAY OUT...INSPECTORS SHOULD RANDOMLY FLAG DOWN A VEHICLE EMITTING FUMES AND ESCORT IT FOR A TEST. iF THE VEHICLE -IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER IT'S A BUS, OR CONCRETE MIXER, OR A TRUCK OR A PRIVATE CAR - FAILS THE TESTS IT WILL BE PUT OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE OWNER SAYS IT'S BEEN FIXED, ANOTHER TEST IS CARRIED OUT. IF THE VEHICLE IS CAUGHT ON THE ROAD IN THE INTERIM, A FINE OF AROUND EUR1 000 IS GIVEN. THE QUESTION OF RPM DOESN'T COME INTO THE PICTURE. ANOTHER THING TO INSPECT IS THE STATE OF THE TYRES AND THE BRAKE EFFICIENCY. YOU WILL SEE THAT IN NO TIME AT ALL ONE WILL SEE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OF THE VEHICLES IN MALTA. UNLESS HEAVY FINES ARE INTRODUCED THE PEOPLE WILL NEVER LEARN. EVEN MR SPITERI WILL START BEING A BIT MORE RESPONSIBLE IN HIS STATEMENTS; AND HE WILL STOP HIS SILLY BEHAVIOUR. DOES HE THINK THAT ALL THE PEOPLE ARE STUPID?
Peter Skerry
Sep 1st 2008, 14:35
Further to the comment regarding a varied selection of old buses being repainted in the old colours and placed in a Museum I am pleased to confirm that a Malta Transport Museum is already in the planning and vehicles are currently being acquired by purchase, donation and loan. Please visit website www.maltahistoricvehicles.com and afford us your support.
Peter Skerry
Malta Historic Vehicle Trust.
E Gatt
Sep 1st 2008, 14:30
@ Paul Barrett
Exactly.
Black smoke = failed test and off the road until repaired.
Vehicle age or type is irrelevant.
Position wardens/police at the bottom of major uphill roads and show no mercy.
C. Cassar
Sep 1st 2008, 13:52
Why not just implement a tried, trusted and proven testing system such as the TUEV test in Germany? Vehicles there tend to be meticulously maintained. Also, any non OEM parts fitted to a vehicle must have also been TUEV tested and approved. That would eliminate loud exhaust pipes, over darkened windows and non approved wheel types and engine modifications.This must be very easy implement on such a small island as Malta.
On every 15-20mins drive, I can count at least 10 vehicles that are clearly exceeding the manufacturers emmision specifications by a large percentage. This is also for cars that are relatively new. All, ADT have to do is engage 10-20 unmarked vehicles of varying types to comb the island day-in, day-out. The resultant fines will easily pay for the investment of the service. It's not very hard to do, so why not just do it?
The benefit of increased health, increased tourism and general increase in quality of life will pay (in financial terms) many, many times over the initial investment in such service.
The government/ADT needs to bite the bullet and take a zero tolerance attitude to the current situation. There is absolutely no excuse for anything else.
Carl Pol
Sep 1st 2008, 13:41
Lets cut the crap and question why old buses should be exempt of environmental tests. ALL vehicles should be subject tot he same test and those that do not meet the requirements should be put off the roads. Only in this way can we in some way get a better environment. Why should buses some as old as 60 years be allowed to pollute our already polluted island further. Get them off the road .
Paul Barrett
Sep 1st 2008, 13:40
With the chocking smell and black smoke, especially when these buses, trucks, vans and some of the badly tuned cars pull away, change gear or start pulling going up hill, the argument over revs for the test (with a vehicle not pulling under load) seems rather puerile and appear to be nothing more than a delaying tactic.
These vehicles are lethal, get them off the road and keep them off the road until they are fixed.
Chris Poulton
Sep 1st 2008, 13:38
Is Mr. Spiteri really serious? has he ever seen a diesel engine in his life? Large private cars with petrol engines? Come On!! Somebody please educate Mr. Spiteri.
Frank Zappa
Sep 1st 2008, 13:30
Does the The Public Transport Association take us all for a bunch of no good morons.
3,000 rpm! as if we never see, hear or breath the result of there revving there engines like the speedy Gonzalez they are!
Give us all a break and get your act together!!
James Abela
Sep 1st 2008, 13:29
Private cars peak 6500revs easily on petrols and 5000 revs on diesels. Old buses in particular used to peak bhp at higher revs than today's, so I would not be surprised that some models are able to gain over 3000 revs even if peak bhp would have already been surpassed.
J Bonello
Sep 1st 2008, 13:21
Who needs MSA standards ? ! Just go near Floriana Traffic Lights just where buses turn to Sarria Street. If you don't choke with bus fumes within 5 minutes - the PTA are right !
Joseph Casha
Sep 1st 2008, 13:04
Is Mr Spiteri speculating that there are no bus drivers owning old buses in malta who go over 3,000 revs???