Reported vehicles untested
Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution
No vehicles were summoned by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) for emission testing since last year, a report has found.
Through text messages, the public reported 30 per cent of the public transport vehicles as opposed to 10 and four per cent of commercial and private vehicles respectively.
However, the potential of the Emissions Alert Campaign (EAC) was not fully realised, mainly because a large number of reported vehicles were not summoned for testing.
Although the ADT applied a higher filtering threshold than that prescribed, its testing capacity was still unable to cope, according to the Auditor General's report tabled in Parliament.
The vehicle emissions' control schemes have brought about "some improvement" in compliance but, despite this, the framework had to be strengthened further.
The fine-tuning of these schemes, through enhanced planning, implementation and enforcement, should contribute towards a more robust and sustainable vehicle emissions' control framework, the report noted.
It proposes that the framework be reviewed to ascertain that the relative schemes are not piecemeal or incremental but designed as part of a holistic and comprehensive strategy, aimed at tackling excessive vehicle emissions.
The report also recommends that, in conjunction with the recently-introduced fiscal measures related to vehicle licensing, annual Vehicle Roadworthiness Tests for older cars would also be considered and penalties introduced in cases where fuel pump seals are found to be broken.
Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution, which impacts negatively on public health and the environment. Their effects are further aggravated by Malta's high vehicle density and the fact that the average age of cars is much higher than the EU average.
The audit focused on the four schemes of the vehicle emissions' control framework, namely the VRT, the emissions' campaign, the Roadside Technical Inspection and the Roadside Emissions Test of the Local Enforcement Scheme.
For the VRT, only 1.2 per cent of the tested vehicles were found to have excessive emissions, with the highest risks emanating from diesel engines, commercial and vehicles aged eight years and over.
The audit revealed the VRT compliance effect diminished substantially soon after passing this test.
Inspections to ascertain that VRT stations conducted tests in accordance with the regulations were not fully adequate or risk-based, it found. The alert campaign had been successful in raising public awareness, bringing about enforcement and reducing vehicle emissions, according to the report.
The roadside emissions' test and the technical inspections, intended to ensure owners maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition at all times, were able to identify a significant number of vehicles with excessive emissions.
Non-compliant vehicles were detected throughout all vehicle age groups and engine capacities. However, the roadside testing regime did not adequately target petrol engine vehicles because the latter's emissions tend to be invisible, albeit very harmful. Moreover, roadside emissions' tests were suspended last year as the ADT sought to limit the conduct of emission testing to certified testers.
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D. Scerri
Jul 9th 2009, 10:03
There's still so much for the government not to be doing. And come the next general election, we expect you die-hard PN voters to do just what you always do and follow the rest of the sheep in ticking the blue boxes. Let us worry about the floating voters, we'll find some way of bringing just enough on board...
Until then, don't waste your breath, because we're not listening to you. Frankly, we couldn't give two hoots about you, we're alright and that's all that matters.
Anne Marie Kissaun
Jul 9th 2009, 10:01
I really do not know why people should be sending sms if these, in the long run, are being ignored, so ADT is telling us ,in a roundabout way, once none of these reported vehicles and others, have not been tested. Thank you very much ADT!!!!!!!!!!!! It is incredible and disheartening to see such indifference from a so called responsible entity. HA HA HA!!!!! What arrogance, to say the least. Unbelievable or rather believable, this is Malta afterall, you can not expect more it seems. What a downright shame. Pull up you socks and get cracking on these vehicles which deserve to be disposed of including the old busses.
Simon Said
Jul 9th 2009, 09:33
Il-Gvern qieghed jghidilna li ghandna nigu naqghu u nqumu - u hekk ha naghmlu - xejn xejn jitghallem ma jghaddix in-nies biz-zmien - u din mhux b'mod politiku ghax il-politici kollha l-istess - dan tarah fil-Kunsilli Lokali - pajjiz tal-misthija - vera ma kienx haqqu jidhol fl-Ewropa u lanqas fil-Lega Afrikana
Anke jien m'iniex ser nirraporta iktar - ihammgu kemm iridu - il-flus inzommhom ghalija mela noqghod naghti kaz x'jaghmlu n-nies...biex umbat gustizzja ma ssirx...hraqtuni man
James Coleiro
Jul 9th 2009, 08:57
This is the last sms I wasted on cosmetic schemes intended to pull wool over people's eyes. Shame.
Joe M Anastasi
Jul 8th 2009, 23:15
I never did think much of the ADT.
So what are all those people in uniform doing stopping vans and trucks on dangerous junctions or corners, when they should be giving an example.
Another case in point is wardens stopping drivers on roundabouts. Don't they know such elementary things as " you don't stop on a roundabout" ?
Alan Kyle
Jul 8th 2009, 20:52
Failing political governance is systemic so like everything else nothing gets done and the uncontrolled poisonous vehicle emissions keep on, slowly killing us. We should be driven by a lust for life, not power and money maybe then things would be different.
Michael Porter
Jul 8th 2009, 18:41
Oghod ibghat l-sms's!! Issa daqshekk! laqqas temmen bl-inkompetenza taghhom. Kulhadd jitkaza bl-ADT inkluzi in-nies barranin.
Charles Micallef
Jul 8th 2009, 16:47
Mr Government,
You increased our road car taxes, because our cars are old and you claim that they harm the enviroment, but what about the incompetence of the ADT which allows everyone else to polute our air,
'
It is still a two tier system Malta, those who obey the rules and those who are allowed by ADT to get away with breaking the law!
B Zammit
Jul 8th 2009, 16:28
I think we deserve to know:
When a SMS is sent to the ADT, who receives it?
Does this person then forward the information to someone else? How often?
How many people are in this chain (from receiving SMS to sending out notices to vehicle owner)?
If there is a slight suspicion that there is someone in this chain of people is illegally collaborating with third parties, will police investigate?
How many SMSs were received on a monthly basis from when the Emission alert started?
When was the last notice sent?
Do the group at ADT prepare a report for the Chairman?
What are the immediate plans for Emission Alert?
m azzopardi
Jul 8th 2009, 16:21
it is very unfair for us citizens that no action is taken after, we inhale all that cancerous white smoke and we report it by sms and being billed for it.
Andrew Gatt
Jul 8th 2009, 15:55
What a load of crap. ADT should be nominated for the Turkey of the Decade Award.
All we hear about is bribery, shoddy roads, lack of planning, scandals, inefficiency, delays, lack of transparency, pollution................bah! Useless.
c. camilleri
Jul 8th 2009, 15:34
The amount of emission coming out from buses is incredible. It is my opinion that the ADT had discontinued its inspections after protests from the bus owners' union.There is so much talk about the environment and then we expose ourselves to this health hazard. Just a couple of hours ago emission coming out of a Zabbar bus prevented me from going forward with my car as the the emission blur my sight. As regards the VRT it is my opinion that there is a great racket going on.
co
P Mifsud
Jul 8th 2009, 14:53
That's it. Yesterday's text message was the last one I sent. I'm deleting the number from my phonebook. I've wasted enough money already.
Adrian Cachia
Jul 8th 2009, 14:27
SPEECHLESS!!!
Stephen Farrugia
Jul 8th 2009, 14:10
I Appeal for ADT to resign since they're doing a very bad job. Although I hate to say this, But we should get management from outside the country to manage our roads... and Learners who are capable of teaching our Youths to drive,... not doing stuff behind the books.....
Finally... There should be a court case from all the maltese against the ADT so that any Damages we sustained in our vehicles, including health damages, are refunded to us by this so called "organisation" Where i don't see any organisation in it.
Jos Vella
Jul 8th 2009, 13:53
private car owners are continuously being harassed to keep a tip top car and public transport can continue to pollute with no problem what so ever.
it's time that us Maltese wake up from our deep sleep.
Joanne Micallef
Jul 8th 2009, 13:26
So I have been spending money reporting cars FOR NOTHING. Unless civil servants start being held accountable in their line of work, nothing is ever going to change in this country. It's a disgrace, there is nothing more precious than ones health, and our authorities have proven to us time and time again that they just don’t give a hoot.
R Sammut
Jul 8th 2009, 12:34
Yo increase the speed cameras, ADT had the time and money...
To make our roads cleaner by following reported cases, they didn't have the resources!!!
SHAME!!!
a.e.camilleri
Jul 8th 2009, 12:31
I have had occasion to state this before, many times before, that we are just not serious in what we carry out. Law enforcement is simply still non-existant in various fields. We have now had enough. But, again, why do we always have to grumble on anything!? Let's be 'positive'! That's saying something! Come on Government, there is still much more work to do in the few years left. So let's have some concrete law enforcement being openly applied! And certain laws need updating too and be brought in line with modern times. Clean the air, please!
Andy Towler
Jul 8th 2009, 12:20
So who is going to refund me for the 60 - 70 SMS messages I sent to the emissions hotline?
C Cassar
Jul 8th 2009, 11:49
I can imagine what happened here. As the election approached, ADT came under pressure to ease off on enforcement and it naturally complied. As a result a valid scheme which had the potential to do a lot of good ground to a halt.
Enforcement is this country's Achilles heel and it will remain so until it is made independent from political direction. Once politicians make laws, those laws should be enforced without fear or favour and regardless of what stage in the electoral cycle we happen to be in.
Tonio Farrugia
Jul 8th 2009, 11:34
This is sheer incompetence by the authority concerned! You expect us normal citizens to abide by every single rule.....only to find out then that this environmental hazard is having the blessing of the ADT. Once again......SHAME ON YOU!
Emanuel Cilia Debono
Jul 8th 2009, 11:25
This is a blatant case of poor law enforcement. Harmful road vehicle emissions remain high particularly where old or heavy vehicles are concerned.
Only some time ago people were officially invited to report cases of harmful emission.The invitation was much publicised in the media. Why is it, now, that the reports received are not being followed up as one would expect? Could it be that ADT has too much on its plate? I do not want to think that the response they received was much higher that what they had initially bargained for. It would be interesting to hear the reason why from the horse's mouth .
I am not surprised though if they do not bother to reply
Sometimes i get the impression that some authorities may feel too smug living in a Disneyland , where all they want to do ( or make believe) comes true, without their having to bother that the laws and regulations on the statute book are properly observed !
We expect an explanation from ADT ,
T Abela
Jul 8th 2009, 11:22
i ask times of malta to keep pressing on this issue. someone from adt must answer for wasting people's time & money
Charles Sammut
Jul 8th 2009, 11:22
The ADT remains one of the most inefficient and ineffectual entities on the island. Except for tax collection that is. Awtorita Dwar it-Taxxi.
And it falls under the responsibility of the loudest minister there is! Now what was it that makes most noise?
Gilbert Busuttil
Jul 8th 2009, 11:18
On the otherhand....privately owned vehicles have had their road circulation tax increased (even to double the amount) due to the "recently discovered" evironment awareness while the main culprits to pollution...Commercial vehicles and our beloved buses remained untouched. Way to go.
Andrea Portelli
Jul 8th 2009, 11:14
...And once again no one is accountable
Good Job!
J Brownie
Jul 8th 2009, 11:02
I have not only voted for Malta to be part of Europe but have fervently campaign for it amongst sceptics - and all this because I hoped things, especially environmental and health issues, will improve on the ground for us common Maltese citizens
Now I owe an apology to my friends and to myself too.
Please forgive me - I should have known better what to expect from this country
Joe Morana
Jul 8th 2009, 10:56
"The ADT has not summoned vehicles for emission testing since last year, a performance audit by the Auditor- General has found." This despite the obvious pollution offenders starting from route busses and heavy commercial vehicle and despite repeated public protests on the media.
It is clear to many that ADT has taken the general public for a ride, hiding behind the 'smokescreen' of its EMS Alert Campaign. As usually, I am confident that no one will be held accountable for such gross omissions and public deceit .
Is this the leap in the quality of life that we were promised before the EU membership? it seem to me that we are again moving back to the future becoming more of a banana republic rather than an EU member State . Shame.
C.Borg
Jul 8th 2009, 10:56
What a disgraceful country with disgraceful authorities. I wish I was born somewhere else!
Moira Heath
Jul 8th 2009, 10:51
I really wish I could convey my disappointment and disgust at having been cheated this way out of my time and money but this is a moderated forum, so I would likely get censored (or sued) if I did.
I was also one who held a beacon of hope everytime I reported some bus, van or truck belching black fumes into my baby's face and into mine. I only hope that the person(s) responsible for this utter disgrace suffer first-handedly the effects these noxious fumes are having on our health. And if the EU can really sue Malta over this, then bring it on. I'll be there in the front seat with popcorn in hand, enjoying the show.
P Debono
Jul 8th 2009, 10:23
@ Charles Micallef.
The ADT has not only wasted the public's time, but also the public's money.
I wonder what their reaction would be if I ignore their reminder for me to pay the road licence!
The ADT is yet another scourge in a spineless nation.
M. Tabone
Jul 8th 2009, 10:23
I never agreed that the general public has to do the enforcement work for ADT and now we learn that they could not cope......just waste of time, energy. The main culprits are buses and old trucks every one knows and yet they remain out of the enforcement. Their place should be in a Museum.
D Vella
Jul 8th 2009, 09:54
More hot air from public bodies. How do they expect people to be good Citizen's when by their non action,they are as ,if not more, guilty than the actual culprits?
I gave up sending sms some time ago when they announced that only one in ten reports where followed through.Now it seems that was an exageration as well.
What we have on this Island is full blown anarchy. Everyone is prepared to go to work,spend eight or so hours doing very little and go to their second job where they can earn good money doing something else,usually not very well. This mentality follows from the principal officers to the lowly clerk. Everyone scratches each other's back and the culture of 'I'm alright Jack' gathers momentum as it is handed down from generation to generation . It's not only immoral but illegal. What we need are Ministers who are not afraid of losing votes and are prepared to take the bull by it's horns and start sacking.
Tony Berkeley
Jul 8th 2009, 09:54
The Maltese never learn anything from their experiences. The way the hunter/trappers were painfully drawn ranting and screaming to stop shooting migrating birds, and the experience that they had with the EU does not seem to have taught the authorities (let alone the car owners) that they will have to comply with the EU pollution regulations, and if they don't by the given deadlines, the country will be taken to court and there will be fines and withholding of funding in general until they do. I cannot understand why pollution testing cannot be an annual test (by the tax/registration method), and if the vehicle fails, it does not get issued with a tax disc, and cannot be used. Meanwhile any vehicle deemed to be pollution should be stopped (on the road) and taken to a police internment area, until it is modified. - simple I think. Why cant the Maltese see this ?
David Borg
Jul 8th 2009, 09:47
Mickey Mouse. A waste of public money, a waste of the public's time. Who is going to take the rap for this blunder?
Louis Gatt
Jul 8th 2009, 09:43
Whoever was responsible for this serious grevience should be thrown out and sued immediatly.
Paul Barrett
Jul 8th 2009, 09:05
I am a little annoyed but not surprised that the money I used to send in my SMS reports has been wasted.
From the enforcement side; if every vehicle was tested and taken off the road until passing the test, the roads would be virtually empty of public transport, government and commercial vehicles. Effectively Malta would grind to a halt.
Charles Micallef
Jul 8th 2009, 08:45
Does this mean that ADT has been wasting peoples 'time?
This non action will certainly discourage anyone for tackling the issue in future!