The Knesset Economic Committee approved an amendment to the Traffic Regulations on June 2, 2010 which aims to reduce vehicular emissions and prevent public exposure to vehicular pollution. The amendment relates to a provision in the 1961 Traffic Regulations which sets conditions for the registration of a vehicle and for renewal of its registration license in the area of air pollution from a gasoline vehicle. The amendment, scheduled to come into force in October 2010, comes in the wake of a request by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the 2007 government decision on vehicular pollution reduction . The amended regulations relate to two pollution emission tests for gasoline fueled vehicles which are performed during the annual vehicle registration process: a carbon monoxide (CO) test and a hydrocarbon (HC) test. In the case of CO, the test will be conducted according to the maximum thresholds set by the vehicle manufacturer for every vehicle model (for 1995 vehicles and after), as is the case in European legislation. Previously cars were tested according to a uniform standard which applied to all models. In addition, a hydrocarbon content test will be added for vehicles manufactured in 1994 and before according to a uniform threshold value of 1000 parts per million (ppm). As per the amended regulations, cars whose emissions consist of more than 0.1% unburned fuel will be banned from driving on the country's roads. Environmental Advantages of the Amendment Vehicles are the major source of air pollution in Israel's cities and their emissions have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality as well as significant costs to the economy. Exposure to carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons is especially hazardous since some of these gases are toxic and carcinogenic and are emitted at pedestrian level in densely populated areas. One way to reduce pollution is to maintain the proper working order of vehicles and their installed systems. The amended regulations will apply to 2 million vehicles in Israel (83.3% of the total). The Ministry of Environmental Protection estimates that some 4% of Israel's old vehicles (1994 and before) emit hydrocarbons at a level higher than that stated in the regulations. This translates to about 16,000 vehicles which will fail the additional hydrocarbon test during the registration renewal process. The contribution of these vehicles is estimated at 37% of the total hydrocarbons emitted by vehicles, not to mention the waste of gas which is associated with these cars. Implementation of the amended regulations will help identify most of Israel's substandard vehicles and will prevent them from moving on the roads, polluting the air and endangering public health.
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