The police are finally dealing with smoking wrecks on Czech roads, writes a German server
German public broadcaster MDR is again paying attention to the problem of smoking wrecks on domestic roads. According to the broadcaster, the police are finally starting to check these vehicles more frequently directly on the roads, revoking their technical fitness on the spot. Some of the vehicles that the police measurements have found to be in poor condition recently received a plaque at an emissions inspection during the MOT.
German public broadcaster MDR reported on intensive checks by the Czech police focused on cars with non-compliant emissions. This move, according to an article, is a response to the number of older diesel vehicles on Czech roads that do not meet emission standards despite having valid technical inspections. As the Germans note, the police are now using mobile measuring stations that detect deficiencies in exhaust gases. The checks focus on areas where vehicles are under more load and produce visible emissions.
MDR mentions that the average age of cars on Czech roads is 16.2 years, which is significantly above the EU average. This fact has a significant impact on air quality, especially in cities and areas with heavy traffic. Many older diesel vehicles are still on the roads, with their owners often using various tricks to bypass emission tests. Some, for example, add special additives to the fuel or drive on a highway before the inspection to improve engine performance and reduce emissions during testing.
The article also points out that public reactions to these police checks are mixed. While some drivers welcome the effort to improve air quality, others criticize the police methods, especially because diesel engines have specific characteristics that can be misleading in short-term measurements. However, the police reject these objections, claiming that their procedure is in accordance with current regulations and that it is a necessary step to protect public health.
MDR also mentions that despite these checks, older diesel vehicles remain popular in the Czech Republic, mainly due to their lower cost and availability. This fact suggests that the problem of older high-emission vehicles will persist for a long time, as many people cannot afford to buy newer and more environmentally friendly cars. Therefore, the police plan to continue the checks to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air and improve the quality of life for residents.
The report from Germany clearly shows that while the Czech police have taken a significant step towards addressing the problem, there is still a long way to go before a significant improvement in air quality on Czech roads is achieved. Older high-emission vehicles are still a major issue that will require not only control measures but also systemic solutions, such as support for transitioning to newer and more environmentally friendly vehicles.
A problem in the Czech Republic also remains the technical inspection stations, which conduct measurements of exhaust gas emissions. According to statistics from the Technical Inspection Information System (ISTP), according to Libor Fleischhans from the Association of Emission Technicians and Repairers, it is long evident that not all stations adhere to measurement rules and their stations thus allow vehicles that should not pass. Fleischhans himself has been highlighting these problems for a long time on his social media account X.
