Government revives plan to crack down on smoky vehicles

The Government wants all vehicles smoke-tested during warrants by the end of next year.

The test, which will be subjective, will target poorly maintained petrol and diesel vehicles and is expected to take a few seconds during a warrant.

Details are yet to be decided, but the aim is to remove the smokiest vehicles from the road or fix them.

But last night the Automobile Association raised concern that the subjective nature of the test could result in inconsistent standards.

In April, Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard announced plans to dump vehicle screening because of the cost.

Industry consultation found the test would cost about $35 and possibly up to $60, she said, with an "unacceptable level" of false results.

At the time, she said officials would look at a visual test instead, and yesterday she announced that such a test would be introduced by the end of next year.

A visual test was expected to be "very inexpensive". The Government estimates 10 per cent of vehicles account for up to 40 per cent of harmful emissions.

Ms Tizard said that over the next few months the Ministry of Transport would work with local government, the motor industry and consumer groups to develop the details.

The Government wants to tackle emissions that could contribute to problems such as premature death, heart disease, cancer and respiratory illness such as bronchitis and asthma.

Officials would also look at stringent controls on vehicles entering the country and require them to meet international emissions standards.

AA spokesman George Fairbairn said the subjective nature of the visual test raised the issue of consistency.

"We will want to have that certainty that people are going to get a consistent and transparent test - and the cost is not going to be huge."

It was difficult to say what the impact of the new rules might be until details were available, and he did not know what the cost of fixing failing vehicles would be.

But Mr Fairbairn said he did not expect the rules to force thousands of vehicles off the road.

"If it can't be fixed because it's in such a poor condition, then maybe that's okay, but for people who have let their vehicle get to a poor standard, they've got to be given a fair period to get it rectified."