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That car is full of technology and can detect heavily polluting trucks while driving.

The Flemish Government uses the sniffer car to detect emission fraud in trucks. In the fight against the so-called emission fraud in trucks, ie those that emit far too many polluting substances. This car is full of technology and can detect heavily polluting trucks while driving, after which they are put aside.

Vehicle emissions fraud is a major problem. Earlier research by the VMM shows that more than 40% of the harmful nitrogen oxides emitted in Flanders by recent Euro VI trucks comes from a small group of fraudsters. The Flemish government, specifically the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) and the Flemish Tax Authorities, is working hard to curb emissions fraud. They want to monitor the air quality in Flanders with this sniffer car.

If inspectors identify problems during inspections, those responsible can be fined. These amounts amount to € 2.500 and the trucks are in any case not allowed to drive on until they have been repaired. Traffic is the main source of nitrogen oxide emissions in Flanders and makes a major contribution to the amount of particulate matter in the air. That weighs on our health. Not every vehicle contributes equally to this problem. From research and innovative measurements along the road in Flanders (called 'remote sensing'), we learn that some vehicles pollute a lot more than expected.

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some vehicles pollute a lot more than expected.
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