The Evidence is Clear … Fixing or Scrapping
High-Polluting Vehicles Helps All Californians

By Charlene Zettel

The news is not good for California's air quality. The American Lung Association recently released its 2005 State of the Air Report with five California cities ranking in the top ten worst polluted cities in the nation, including the top three spots.

Recent studies have linked air pollution to a wide variety of negative health effects, including asthma, reduced lung capacity, heart disease, cancer and even premature death. California has some of the highest prevalence of asthma in the nation. According to 2001 California Health Interview Survey, an estimated 11.9% of Californians-3.9 million children and adults-have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives.

According to the California Air Resources Board, California vehicles produce more than 2,000 tons of pollution every single day. This, in itself, takes a heavy toll on California's air quality.

On average, older vehicles (20-25 years old) that fail Smog Check can produce up to 30 times more emissions than newer vehicles. These high-polluting cars make up only about ten percent of all the vehicles on the road, but they emit more than 50 percent of the vehicle pollution. If we take these vehicles off the road or fix them so they run cleaner, we will reduce pollution and make our air healthier. It's really that simple.

The Bureau of Automotive Repair has targeted these high-polluting vehicles through its Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). The CAP will pay motorists $1,000 to voluntarily retire their high-polluting vehicle and have it crushed or up to $500 toward smog-related repairs for qualified consumers.

The program's goal is to permanently remove 15,000 high-polluting vehicles from California roadways by July 1, 2006. This would represent a reduction of more than 900 tons of smog-forming pollutants.

Earlier this year, Governor Schwarzenegger launched the Help California Breathe Easier public awareness campaign to promote the Consumer Assistance Program and educate motorists about the harmful health effects of vehicle-related smog.

You can help clean up California's air by repairing or retiring your polluting vehicle or by helping spread the word about the Consumer Assistance Program. For more information or to obtain an application, visit the Breathe Easier Web site at www.BreatheEasier.ca.gov or call (800) 952-5210.

Charlene Zettel is the Director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Back to Pressroom