There are about 300,000 vehicles on Malta. One could safely assume that one third would pass the emissions test, one third would pass with some work (air filters, engine tuning etc.) and the other third would require significant work, possibly the replacement/rebuilding of the engine. From driving around Malta these figures seem in the right ball park. To achieve the required emissions standards about 50-100,000 people would be required to spend perhaps €1,000 each (and be severely inconvenienced by not having their car available for use) .

Emissions testing must be a poison chalice for the ADT!

Who do we rely on to enforce this law? Why the local VRT testing station? Which is stronger, the loyalty to village, family and friends (and friends of friends) or forcing them to spend €1000 on a working vehicle that failed the test but is otherwise safe? How can the ADT be sure the emissions test is for the vehicle under test, since vehicles are not routinely stopped and retested? Any vehicles that "inadvertently passed" the test will not be found.

One answer is to have a centralised emissions testing facility with inspectors changed every day. Test all vehicles every year - yes that's 1,000 vehicles per day.

Year one: Confiscate the road license of any vehicle three times over the emission limit and warn all car owners over the limit.

Year two: Confiscate the license for all vehicles over twice the emissions limit.

While this does not "fully enforce the law" it is a working solution that would get the worse offending vehicles off the road quickly.

Given the interest this topic has stirred up in this column and with the wide ownership of digital cameras, I suggest The Times runs a rogues gallery of photos of smoking vehicles clearly showing the registration number. (No taking pictures while driving!) Let's shame the ADT/police into action!

I don't expect improvement in air quality any time soon!