AirCare emissions program ending for Metro Vancouver vehicles

The B.C. government's AirCare program, whichmonitored vehicle emissions in Metro Vancouver, is wrapping up after more thantwo decades checking tailing pipes.

The program is being phased out on December31 because the technology to reduce emissions from new vehicles has been improving, while the number of vehicles failing the tests has been falling, according to the Ministry of Environment.

"Since the program began in 1992, emissions from light-duty vehicles have decreased 89 per cent from 149,300 tonnes to an estimated 16,500 tonnes for 2014," said a statement issued by the ministry

"Since 2007, both the AirCare failure rate and the number of vehicles failing have steadily dropped from 14 per cent (58,776 vehicles) to less than eight per cent (34,439 vehicles) as of November 2014."

Earlier this year AirCare began reducing the fee for testing every month in anticipation of the program ending.

But the savings will be short-lived for drivers, who are facing an average increase of $36 this coming year from ICBC on their basic auto insurance.

Fraser Valley air pollution sources - 2005