ADT to resume testing vehicles reported by SMS - Minister was unaware tests had stopped

(Adds video comments by Minister Austin Gatt)

The Malta Transport Authority (ADT) will as from Monday be carrying out 45 tests per day on vehicles reported by the public over SMS over the last few months for emitting excessive fumes.

"This will mean that within eight weeks all cars reported under the SMS alert system which fall under the criteria established when the scheme was launched, will be tested for emissions," the authority said.

The Auditor-General last week revealed that the ADT had this year not tested any vehicles reported for excessive emissions by the public using the SMS service it had itself promoted.

The ADT said in a statement this evening there is a backlog of 1,486 vehicles that will be tested in the coming weeks. Should they be found to be non compliant they would face the actions and penalties contemplated at law.

It pointed out that several of these vehicles have already been tested in routine road side checks or in VRT testing over the past several months.

"A new structured Emission Alert Testing System is now in place enabling the Authority to carry out more than 180 tests per week. This system will see an immediate and efficient address of each SMS report received," the ADT said.

It insisted that during the past several months, testing for vehicle emissions was never stopped or even slowed down.

"We do reiterate our apology, however, for not having advised the public in the appropriate time for suspending temporarily the use of information provided by the public over SMS to assist us in our investigations."