Air pollution is a key factor in the overall health of our city. Polluted air poses not only a serious health risk to residents, killing almost 5 000 people a year (according to the Medical Research Council), but also mars the image our city’s image.

The greatest air pollution danger in Cape Town is from what’s known as ‘particulate matter’, which originates from dust, wood-burning and diesel. Diesel fumes are a major contributor to the yellow-brown smog that hovers over the sea and hides the view!

So if you see a vehicle spewing out dark fumes, please report it. You’ll be doing the right thing by your fellow residents, and helping the city encourage the owners of these vehicles to carry out the necessary repairs by submitting their vehicles for an emissions test.

Report smoking vehicles to the City's Air Quality Management Unit during office hours on 021 590 1419.

Make sure you have the following information with you when you call:

• Your name and contact telephone number
• The registration number of the vehicle (not of the trailer being towed, if there is one)
• The make of vehicle
• The type of vehicle, ie a truck, bakkie or sedan
• The name of the road on which it was travelling
• The direction of travel
• The area
• The time
• The date

Since the City started a programme to test the exhaust emissions of diesel-engine vehicles in 2000, there has been a dramatic decrease in the failure rate of diesel vehicles tested.
In 2000, 17% of vehicles tested failed the test; in 2008, 0.66% of vehicles tested failed the test.

According to David Oliver of the City’s Diesel Emissions Testing Unit, the decrease in the failure rate can be attributed to the following factors:

• The decrease in the sulphur content in diesel
• Improved engine technology
• Visible policing
• Improved maintenance programmes by some of the major fleet owners
  

Air pollution officers randomly test diesel vehicles at various roadside testing sites, where drivers are asked to depress the accelerator of the vehicle, while the Vehicle Emissions Officer (tester) uses a light meter to measure the darkness of the smoke from the exhaust pipe.

The driver of a vehicle failing these tests usually receives a spot fine of about R500. A notice is served on the owner to repair the vehicle, and submit it for a retest within 30 days.