Concept of Environmental Protection
In recent years,
in the wake of immense growth of society,
humanities and industrial economy, the distances between
cities and rural areas in Taiwan have been reduced
considerably, and the demands for the transportation of
passengers and freight have correspondingly increased.
However, because the construction of mass rapid transit
systems was not sufficient and lagged behind in
schedule, diesel buses and trucks have become widely
used, which are convenient and rapid transportation
tools. Diesel engines, with their low cost of fuel and
high horsepower output, have been widely used on
passenger and freight vehicles and vehicles for special
purposes such as those used in military and engineering
functions. However, the black smoke (particle
pollutants) emitted by diesel engines can cause
discomfort to eyes. More seriously, such components as
PAHs contained in the smoke may cause respiratory
diseases and cancer. So it is seriously detrimental to
human health.
The
“Monthly Report on the
Transportation Statistics of Taiwan”
published by
Ministry of Transportation and Communications shows the
statistics of May 2004. They indicate that up to 14,694
freight vehicles were registered and up to 34,610 small
trucks were registered, leading the other areas of
Taiwan in both categories. Furthermore, the mass
transportation in the Kaohsiung metropolitan area
primarily depends on city buses. At the same time, there
are large numbers of large diesel passenger cars. These
vehicles have caused severe air pollution.
In recent ten or so years,
in order to prevent exhaust emission by road
transport from deteriorating air quality, advanced
countries have worked hard to manage and reduce mobile
sources of pollution, developed techniques for
controlling pollution, and enacted relevant laws and
regulations to improve environmental protection. The
United States has accomplished the most in this aspect.
In 1970 the United States established the system of
regular examination and maintenance of gasoline- and
diesel-powered vehicles in use and has since implemented
it in various states. The system has given rise to
excellent outcome, not only reducing the emission of
vehicles by more than 90% but also benefiting the
economic growth and international competitiveness of
this country. So such countries as Switzerland (Europe)
and Korea and Taiwan (Asia) have adopted the laws of
emission control of the United States with the hope of
reducing vehicle emission and improving the qualities of
air. In reviewing the control system of the United
States, it is known that the United States has
increasingly tightened the standards for examining new
vehicles and implemented the “System of Regular
Examination and Maintenance of Vehicles in Use,” in
consideration of the fact that most vehicles in use are
old. This has played an important role in having
improved the quality of air in urban areas and
protecting national health.