Tests show clean exhausts - but drivers need to keep them clean

More than fifty vehicles were recently stopped at random to test how clean their exhausts were - and they all passed the test.

Rochdale Council recently tested emissions levels on the border of Heywood and Middleton to check that vehicles complied with the MOT emissions levels.

Staff from Environmental Health worked with colleagues from Manchester City Council's Cleaner Vehicles team, and were very pleased that none of the 51 vehicles tested had emission levels above those set by the Department for Transport for their type of vehicle.

This was one of a series of test days arranged as part of Greater Manchester's Cleaner Vehicles campaign. Previous test days have focussed on both voluntary testing and specific types of vehicles such as taxis.

Adrian Watson, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager said: "We are pleased that the compliance was very good. However, we hope that the tests remind drivers to check their vehicles regularly.

"Drivers need to know that it is an offence to drive a vehicle in an Air Quality Management Area when its emissions are exceeding the appropriate levels for that vehicle and that we will carry out checks from time to time."

Most of the major roads within the borough are within Air Quality Management Areas.

Further test days are planned when the police will work with Council staff. On these occasions, drivers will again have to stop and have their vehicle tested. If their vehicles fail the test because of excessive emissions they may be issued with a fixed penalty fine.

Drivers who suspect that their vehicle's emissions are excessive should arrange to have it checked at a garage. It is important that all vehicles are running within their permitted emissions levels. The worst ten per cent of vehicles cause thirty percent of the total emissions from vehicles.

Further information on the Campaign is available from www.cleanervehicles.org.uk