200 vehicles per month fail to comply with the smoke emission tests at the Land Transport Authority inspection centres.
This has been highlighted by the LTA Board Chairman Vijay Maharaj.
Maharaj says with close to 110,000 vehicles currently registered on the roads nationwide, the LTA is concerned with the emission of excessive black fumes from a vehicle’s exhaust.
He says each month an average of 250 diesel-powered vehicles in the Central-Eastern, 200 in the Western and 50 in the Northern Division go through the emission test requirements set for such vehicles.
Maharaj says the common causes of black smoke emissions from diesel-powered engines includes unclean engines and fuel, poorly adjusted fuel systems, the use of low quality lubricants, and driver attitude.
Maharaj says progress has been made in reducing vehicle emissions as ten years ago, the level of smoke emissions in Fiji was at an unacceptable 70 percent.
He says it has been reduced to around 50 percent, but they are aiming for a further significant reduction by 2018.
Maharaj says defective vehicles are referred to LTA accredited motor vehicle workshops to repair and rectify the causes of high emission levels.
He says the Authority does not seek to be excessively punitive for minor violations, but vehicle owners need to take responsibility to ensure they comply with the regulations and help reduce the level of vehicle emissions.
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