4% of large vehicles found emitting black smoke

Workers spray water from a tall building in Bangkok on Friday in a bid to bring down o PM2.5 levels on Friday. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Many trucks and passenger buses were found emitting more black smoke than the 45% limit in checks of exhaust fumes conducted by the Land Transport Department to date, according to director-general Peerapol Thavornsupcharoen.

The checks have been conducted since Feb 1 at 31 checkpoints in 15 provinces on major and secondary roads used by trucks and buses heading for Bangkok.

On Feb 1-2, 3,280 vehicles were examined at these checkpoints. Of them, 117 trucks and 17 buses, or 4% in total, were found to be emitting more black smoke than the limit.

Owners of the trucks and buses found emitting higher than 45% of black smoke were fined 5,000 baht and the vehicles were banned from use until they are fixed and certified by the Land Transport Department.

A warning was issued for owners of vehicles emitting between 30-45% of black smoke, instructing them to fix the engines.

The department has also asked operators of trucks and buses throughout the country to get their vehicles checked at all LTD offices throughout the country, starting Feb 4, to prevent the emissions of black smoke, one of the sources of PM2.5 particulate matter. This is an urgent measure to be taken until the PM2.5 crisis has eased.

People who spot trucks and buses with black smoke are urged to record their registration plate numbers and inform the department's complaint centre at the 1584 hotline so that actions can be taken against them, Mr Peerapol said.



