INSPECTION OF CARS (Particulars)

Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Acting Minister for Communications (a) what is the passing rate of inspection of cars for each of the tests conducted by, and the overall passing rate of inspection centres in 1983; (b) whether compulsory inspection has resulted in better maintained cars and has thus reduced the level of pollution and the accident rate; and (c) whether in future higher standards of emission level are required of new cars so that motorists will not be unnecessarily penalised.

The Acting Minister for Communications (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, 70% of the cars inspected by the inspection centres in 1983 passed the tests at the first attempt. The passing rates for the various individual tests are as follows: 1. Above carriage inspection 92.9% 2. Side slip test 89.5% 3. Brake test 92.9% 4. Under carriage inspection 89.7% 5. Exhaust emission test 54.6% 6. Headlight test 10.6%

The inspections have resulted in better maintained cars. For example, before the introduction of the inspections in 1982, several trial inspections were conducted to determine the general condition of cars. Of these, only 30% of the cars inspected passed the tests compared with the 70% today. In fact, the 30% that failed the test at the first attempt eventually passed all tests after modifications and repairs were made. So the pass rate in effect is 100%. Sir, it must be obvious that better maintained cars will eventually lead to less exhaust pollution and lessen the risk of accidents caused by poorly maintained cars.

Higher standards of exhaust emission will be imposed in the future. From October this year, all new models of cars imported into Singapore must conform to the standards adopted in Western Europe - the ECE 15.03 standard. This limits the amount of pollutants emitted by motor cars to within tighter levels. Manufacturers exporting cars to Singapore must certify that their cars conform to these standards, These new regulations are necessary to upgrade our environment.