Air Quality - Smoky Diesels
Diesel fumes are a substantial source of air pollution in urban areas. They can be unpleasant to breathe and they make buildings sooty.
The Council, working with the Department of Transport, would like your help to improve current standards by reporting excessively smoky lorries and buses. Please note that this does not apply to light vans, cars or taxis.
However please note that well maintained diesel engined vehicles do emit some smoke when starting from cold, accelerating or travelling uphill. This is normal and should not be reported. Please report vehicles only if they are continuously emitting excessive smoke.
To report a Smoky Diesel you can contact the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), which investigates these reports, on 0870 6060 440 or complete our Smoky Diesel Report Form.
The information needed to trace an excessively smoky vehicle and investigate a report is:
- Registration number
- Vehicle description - make, model, colour etc
- Date, time and place you saw the vehicle
- The name of the vehicle's operator, if one is visible
You will be asked to give your own name and address, which will be kept confidential, although this is not compulsory.
VOSA will contact the owner of the offending vehicle requiring it to be checked and to have any fault or maintenance problem rectified. The vehicle may be called in for checking at the nearest Goods Vehicle Testing Station.
More information about VOSA’s operating standards and checks on buses and lorries.