Smoky vehicle calls keep Council lines busy

By JASON COLLIE transport reporter

Auckland motorists are coughing in their thousands on vehicles belching out black smoke.

More than 4000 people have dobbed in fellow motorists during the first six days of the campaign to clean up exhaust emissions on city roads, much to the surprise of organisers at the Auckland Regional Council.

One car was reported to the campaign's 0800 SMOKEY hotline seven times on Monday as it travelled on a route taking in Ellerslie, Penrose, Gillies Ave, Khyber Pass Rd and the Southern Motorway.

The council's clean air campaign coordinator, Jami Williams, said: "It is obviously someone driving around all that day, but it just shows how the public have embraced the campaign."

The number of "snitches" has increased so dramatically since the campaign started last week - rising from 197 on the first day to 955 on Monday - that the ARC is now keeping the phoneline open an extra hour a night until 7.30 pm and at the weekend.

The council is tracing the reported vehicles and sending letters to the owners offering free emissions checks.

Ms Williams said some motorists had dobbed themselves in to get the free test. "We have been inundated," she said.

"I did not expect this number of calls, that's for sure. We have had to bring in extra staff to handle the calls.

"So many people have been annoyed by smoky vehicles in the past, and this is showing them there is something they can do about it."

The ARC launched the campaign because it says pollution in Auckland exceeds World Health Organisation standards.

Air quality manager Kevin Mahon said 20 per cent of vehicles were causing 80 per cent of the pollution problems.

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