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Date Published: 05/01/2023

ARCHIVED - Double trouble: ITV centres in Spain want low emission zone cameras to check for valid car tests

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Cities across Spain have now implemented low emission zones where polluting vehicles cannot circulate

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Double trouble: ITV centres in Spain want low emission zone cameras to check for valid car tests

The Association of Entities for the Technical Inspection of Vehicles of the Community of Madrid (AEMA-ITV) has asked that cameras set up to monitor the new Low Emission Zones (ZBE) also be used to check if passing vehicles have a valid ITV test.

Since January 1, towns and cities across Spain with populations of more than 50,000 have had to zone off certain central streets to polluting vehicles. Many regions will limit traffic at specific times and promote the use of public transport while in Madrid, vehicles wanting to travel the M-30 will need to display an environmental label proving they are low emission.

To control the flow of traffic, the capital has set up a series of cameras to guarantee compliance with the regulation and now AEMA wants to use this surveillance to catch drivers without an up-to-date inspection. Like the MOT test in the UK, the ITV is a routine check that must be carried out on older vehicles to ensure their roadworthiness. Circulating without a test, or with an expired sticker, carries large fines.

The organisation has also pointed out that having the Technical Vehicle Inspection up to date is also necessary to ensure good air quality. In November last year alone, ITV stations in Madrid detected 16,631 vehicles with serious defects due to their high emissions of polluting gases and to top it off, around 40% of motorists failed to turn up for their test.

“Having the DGT environmental sticker is not enough to guarantee that the vehicle's emissions do not exceed the limits set by the regulations,” said the president of AEMA-ITV, Jorge Soriano.

The request to use the low emission zone cameras was already brought before the Road Safety Commission last year so it’s quite possible that expired ITVs across Spain will soon be able to be tracked through vehicle licence plates.

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