While reducing the number of kilometres driven is critical to combating air pollution, equally pressing is the need to reduce the level of harmful vehicle emissions. This will require a coordinated strategy encompassing the following elements:

1. Stricter vehicle emission and fuel standards

Increasing the stringency of emission standards and tightening gasoline standards will significantly improve human health and air quality. Creating a more stringent sulphur standard for gasoline must become a top priority.

2. Enhanced fuel efficiency requirements

Fuel consumption is directly related to carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles, and adoption of more stringent standards is one of the single most effective measures government could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, with less fuel being burned, polluting chemicals released by fossil fuel production and combustion decrease.

3. Tax exemptions for alternative fuels and alternative fueled vehicles

Tax exemptions have been used as an attempt to promote lower emissions

4. Improved vehicle inspection and maintenance programs

Vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs require drivers to have their cars and trucks periodically tested for emissions and also require the repair of excessive emitters.

5. Incentives to accelerate the retirement of higher polluting vehicles

Older vehicles often lack effective pollution control equipment, and are a severe pollution problem. Accelerated vehicle retirement programs remove these vehicle from the road by buying the car and then scrapping it.

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