Starting from Monday 12 March 2007, the City Council’s vehicle emissions testing unit will be out and about checking up on vehicles on the city’s roads to make sure they are not contributing to air pollution in the city.  Owners will be warned about the problems they are causing and likely fines. 

The message will be conveyed in a £100,000 four week advertising campaign - ‘exhausted all the excuses’ (targeting emissions) and ‘It’s time for a breather’ (targeting idling) launched the same day.

The latest campaign includes adverts being placed in newspapers, TV and radio Special leaflets will also be handed to motorists when they are pulled in for the road-side check up or spotted parked with the engine running. 

This is the latest in a series of similar ‘clean air’ campaigns that have been targeting vehicles using the city streets to make sure their exhaust fumes are within legal limits and they are not idling illegally.  So far 6,192 cars, 211 buses/lorries and 370 taxis/private hire cars have had their emissions checked.  The failure rate is running at 2.39%.

Vehicles are stopped by a Strathclyde Police officer and tested by enforcement officers from the Council’s Environmental Protection Services.  Drivers of vehicles failing the test are issued with a £60 fixed penalty fine by the Council officers.  This fine must be paid unless the defective vehicle is fixed and paperwork produced within 28 days of the check confirming it emits legal exhaust emissions.

One hundred and twenty one drivers have also been issued with £20 fines for illegally idling since the new legislation was introduced.

Assistant Director, Land and Environmental Services Tommy McDonald said:

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to do their bit to improve the environment in the city and that includes the air quality.  The Council will do what it can to improve things but we need every driver to care enough to ensure the vehicle they are using doesn’t pollute our city’s air.”

Background

Glasgow City Council’s enforcement approach is the most proactive of all UK cities.

The testing unit is used around the city throughout the year.  The test involves an analysing pipe being put into the exhaust and the emissions tested for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and/or smoke levels.  The standard required to pass is the same as the MOT test standard.

The legislation for this enforcement is the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003.  The Council started enforcement work under this legislation in March 2004.

The ‘It’s time to clear the air’ campaign is funded by funds from the Scottish Executive.

The Council also enforces vehicle idling. Since November 2005 and after seeking legal council, the City Council took a firmer line on the issuing of idling fixed penalties.

Raising awareness of the link between vehicle emissions and air pollution and taking action against offenders are two key commitments the City Council has made in Glasgow’s Air Quality Action Plan (see link below).

To find out more about air quality in Glasgow, log on to www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Environment/Pollution/Air/