Vehicles’ emissions tested for the first time
Vehicles were tested on the N12 next to the R500 crossing.
The emissions of vehicles travelling through our area were tested for compliance to air quality legislation for the first time ever this week.
On Friday 21 June officials of the Air Quality Management section from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and traffic officers of the Merafong City Local Municipality held a joint action to test a new opacity meter on the N12 next to the big fourway intersection with the R500. The meter, the second in the province and the country, measures the density of smoke being emitted from the exhausts of diesel vehicles, which are the worst polluters on our roads.
The CEO of the Air Quality Management section, Mr Eric Mulibana, explained that Section 8 (a)(ii) of the National Environmental Management:
Air Quality Act (2004) requires that national standards be established for municipalities to monitor point, non- and mobile source emissions.
This is brought to effect in the National Framework for Air Quality Management in the Republic of South Africa (2007).
Limits for the density/opacity of exhaust emissions from diesel-fueled vehicles have been prescribed in South African legislation viz. GN R1651 of 20 September 1974, Regulations Concerning the Control of Noxious or Offensive Gases Emitted by Diesel-Driven Vehicles.
Although newer vehicles usually have emissions that are well under the legislatory standards, older vehicles or those with engine problems can emit more smoke that is allowed.
“Exhaust emissions from cars, trucks and other vehicles are one of the greatest sources of air pollution.
Vehicle emission is one of the major sources of air pollution in Gauteng Province where motor vehicles are responsible for 50% of the provincial CO emission and 84% of the total VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission. Because of this, the Department is working with licensing authorities to establish and implement the Gauteng province vehicle emissions programme,” Mulibana added.
The officials placed the opacity meter in the exhausts of several trucks that were pulled off.
The drivers were asked to do several tasks, such as revving their engines, to check for dangerous smoke from their exhausts.
The meter itself transmitted its readings to two other hand-held machines, one of which prints the results, which are handed to the driver. If a truck was found not to be compliant to the legislation, a notice is issued that it must be retested within 14 days.
If this is not done, the owner is issued with another 14-day notice. If the owner still fails to retest his vehicle he is summoned to appear in court, where a magistrate will determine his sentence.
