The organisation of car free days is among recommendations made in an Air Quality Plan published today by the Infrastructure Ministry - even though Malta did not take part in the recent EU car free day.

The plan, which is open for public consultation, lists a range of short and medium term measures which can be taken to reduce harmful emissions on Malta's roads.

The proposal on car free days says car free days could be made more effective by combining them with festivities. This could include encouraging local councils to organise local activities combined with car free days.

Other proposed short-term measures include:

Enforcement of regulations on vehicle exhaust from polluting trucks, cars and buses;

Enforcement of the quality of fuel used in cars, trucks and buses;

An educational campaign on better driving practices and car maintenance;

Promotion of car pooling and ride-sharing schemes;

Restricting the circulation of public transport vehicles to Euro 3 buses where pollution thresholds are being exceeded;

The introduction of traffic direction variable lanes on roads which can take that concept;

Certification exercise for all VRT stations and spot checks;

Improvements of other forms of transport including connections via ferries, electric city cabs, cleaner taxis;

Better timing of refuse collection and road works to avoid traffic congestion;

Fiscal incentives for the acquisition of cleaner technology vehicles;

Modification of government vehicles to use cleaner fuels;

Promotion of tele-working;

Adjusting school times to reduce congestion.

MEDIUM TERM MEASURES

The proposed medium term measures include the public transport reform, an extension of the CVA system to Floriana, the provision of more park and ride schemes, such as in Sliema, Hamrun, St Julian's and Qormi, roadside emissions testing of polluting vehicles, replacement of old government cars and the declaration of low emission zones, thus banning polluting vehicles from such areas.

The document also proposes a feasibility study on the reintroduction of a tram service.

LOCALITIES EXCEED POLLUTION THRESHOLDS

The report lists localities which have exceeded the benzene annual limit value between 2004 and 2008. Last year, the limit was only exceeded in St Anne Street, Floriana and Valley Road, Birkirkara.

However a number of localities exceeded nitrogen dioxide annual limit values last year. These were : St Anne Street, Floriana; St Joseph High Rd and Old Railway Road, Hamrun; Aldo Moro Street, Marsa; Cospicua Street and Triq il-Polverista, Cospicua; Zabbar Road and Vjal Cottoner, Fgura; Hompesch Road, Zabbar, St Anthony Street, Marsascala; Gudja Bypass, Valley Road and Psaila Street Birkirkara;

Manuel Dimech Street, Qormi; Eucharistic Congress Rd and Independence Avenue, Mosta;, Manuel Dimech Street and Rue D'Argens, Sliema; Spinola Seafront; Mensija Rd, San Gwann; Sliema Rd, Gzira and Nikola Sawra Street, Rabat.

The report and proposals can be seen at www.mitc.gov.mt