Exhaust checks start next year

Motor vehicles must have their exhausts inspected regularly, starting next year.

In accordance with the master plan of the Vietnam Register, the inspections have been mandated in order make sure that vehicles are not emitting too many pollutants.

According to General Director of the Vietnam Register Trinh Ngoc Giao, the plan, which has been approved by the Prime Minister, will be implemented in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City on a trial basis on motor vehicles that are more than 10 years old. The plan will be expanded to other localities if the trial is successful.

"The plan will focus on vehicles that are 10 years old or older because they pollute more," he said. "It will then target vehicles that are more than seven years old and it will continue to descend."

After undergoing exhaust emission inspections once a year, motor vehicles that have passed inspections will receive a stamp and verification certificate.

For vehicles that fail to pass inspections, they must be repaired and fined VND300,000 (US$15.7), which is six times more than the cost of a simple check-up, Giao said.

"Traffic and environment police and inspectors will have the power to inspect vehicles on the roads in order to ensure they meet the requirements," he added.

In order to create favourable conditions for motor vehicle drivers, the Vietnam Register will set up approximately 100 exhaust check points at maintenance centres in Hanoi and 150 in HCM City.

The Register will also focus on human resources training and purchasing equipment in order to improve the effectiveness of the plan, he said.

Statistics show that motor vehicles create about 70 per cent of the existing air pollution in urban areas in Viet Nam.

The five-year plan targets to have between 80-90 per cent of motor vehicles in Ha Noi and HCM City abiding by the requirements and 60 per cent in other cities. There are nearly 30 million cars and motorbikes in the country.