The introduction of electric cars on the market and the monitoring of vehicle emissions by means of tests are some of the measures that are tackling the issue of a great amount of pollutants emitted from certain vehicles, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi.
Mr Mizzi was replying to a question made by this newsroom if Transport Malta is still conducting random tests on vehicles to verify whether the emissions are higher than those stipulated.
This question to the minister was raised by this newsroom after a number of The Malta Independent readers phoned in to air their concerns over what they described as a "substantial increase in vehicle emissions during the last few months".
"The situation is worsening," one reader who called this newsroom lamented, questioning whether random tests on vehicles are still being conducted by the authorities.
In the past, the reader said, car pollution had somehow decreased as a result of random tests on vehicles and reports lodged by means of an SMS system which had been set up to report vehicles emitting a visible amount of emissions, but it seems as though these measures have been stopped due to the number of cars witnessed polluting the streets in recent months.
"At times it is so unbearable that you would have to pull over until the vehicle in front of you fades away," a caller said.
Mr Mizzi said that he could not simply change things overnight but the ministry was doing its best to implement measures to help reduce emissions on our roads.
A three per cent reduction had been reported in the SMS reports received by Transport Malta between July 2012 and June 2013 in connection with the emission alert scheme.
Reportedly, 3,120 SMSes were sent throughout the above mentioned period, marking a 3% reduction when compared to the previous 12 months.
The Emission Alert Campaign (EAC) was launched by Transport Malta in August 2005 with the aim of increasing public awareness on the negative impact of harmful vehicle emissions, increasing enforcement through the involvement of the public and reducing drastically vehicle emissions.
Over the whole of 2013, a total 12,000 vehicles were reported over excessive emissions.
In reply to a parliamentary question, Mr Mizzi had said that out of the 12,529 SMS alerts received by Transport Malta, only 250 vehicles were tested by the authority.
Mr Mizzi had also pointed out that once three separate reports on one singular vehicle are received in a three-month period, the car owner is notified by post to have his car tested.
If the car does not reach the criteria, a fine is issued and the same process is repeated until the vehicle's emission levels are within limit.
If motorists fail to take their vehicle to Transport Malta after two notifications, their car license would not be eligible for renewal before the vehicle is tested and proven roadworthy.