Updated: Bus owners declare dispute over emission tests

The Public Transport Association, which represents bus owners, has ordered bus drivers not to take their buses for any tests requested by the Transport Authority other than the VRT.

The directive was issued following a dispute over the way emission tests are conducted. The association is insisting that the authority has to give it evidence that the testers are qualified to conduct the tests.

Earlier a spokesman for the transport ministry said the association has declared an industrial dispute and threatened a stoppage over the way the tests are being carried out .

The spokesman said the bus drivers were insisting that whenever the tests were conducted, it should be the drivers at the controls.

The regulations lay down that the tests have to be carried out only by the qualified testers.

The spokesman said the testing procedure had to be followed and he could not understand how the association had adopted this stand.

The spokesman said that over the past 12 weeks, a total of 108 complaints had been received on just one bus and the driver was objecting to the emission test.

Between January and March 98 tests on buses were carried out and 58 buses failed. Owners were fined €46 each time and ordered to rectify the situation.