An air quality lobbying group led by an MP has called on the government to introduce stricter MOT testing for diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in order to reduce emissions.
At present, MOT testers only have to check for the presence of a DPF. However, the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality says this is not good enough, pointing out that if the filter is damaged, particles will be emitted with reduced filtration. This could result in much higher particulate emissions.
The group – founded by Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield – cited research from Holland, which estimated 10 percent of diesel cars have damaged, faulty, tampered with or unlawfully removed DPF filters.
Members of the group include Renault Trucks UK, Siemens Mobility and the City of London Corporation.
Why are diesel particulate filters a problem?
Based on this data, the introduction of diesel particulate filter testing during MOTs could reduce PM2.5 particles in the UK by 1,000 tonnes per year, the group said.
It added a Dutch MOT testing centre measured a diesel vehicle with a faulty DPF and found that one single polluting vehicle’s particle emissions would be the same as from all the typical idling diesel vehicles with working DPFs in a 360-mile long, three-lane traffic jam.
Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and the chair of the group, said: “As a Commission, we are committed to identifying and following best practice in achieving improved air quality – drawing expertise from home and abroad. More rigorous assessments of vehicles’ emissions levels would mitigate the harmful health impacts of high roadside air pollution and in turn, save lives.
“We will continue to relay to the Government the merits of being inspired by the successes from the Netherlands, and bring attention to best practice elsewhere.”
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