This program was implemented from February 17, 2012 to December 31, 2013, with the overall work progress and work achievement rate shown in Table 1, and the various work performance summarized as follows:
1. Auditing control of motorcycles being used
For the program of 2012 and 2013 there were 1,048,416 postcards and 1,107,202 postcards of regular test notification mailed out to motorcyclists respectively, with a total of 2.155,618 postcards mailed out in these 2 years. The number of postcards mailed out exceeded the target of at least 2 million cases in 2 years as stipulated on the Contract, with an achievement rate of 100%.
The postcards of notification, different auditing operations and the number of downloaded samples of machine-fixed system’s auditing platform were uploaded to the regular test database of Environmental Protection Administration to make verification by comparison, sort out the motorcycles that had not taken the regular test before expiration, and mail out notification of improvement before a specified date. In 2012 and 2013 there were 147,363 cases and 279,194 cases of these kinds respectively, with re-test rate being 64.55% and 65.6% respectively.
With the ways of auditing, reporting and punishment, this program effectively facilitated a growth of regular test rate by above 6.9% when compared with the test rate in the same period of last year. The number of motorcycles in the City taking the test was highest in Taiwan, accounted for 1/7 of the total number of motorcycles in Taiwan taking the test, was positioned the 5th in whole Taiwan, and the 2nd amongst the 5 metropolitans.
2. Auditing management of motorcycle regular test station
Regarding the operation of auditing management of motorcycle exhaust test station, the program not only made spot check and real motorcycle check once every 2 months, but also carried out standard gas verification operation at different test stations in order to control their test and service quality effectively. In 2012 and 2013, spot checks were made for 2,463 station-times and 2,526 station-times respectively; real motorcycle checks were made for 2,371 station-times and 2,384 motorcycle-times respectively; and gas verification operation was carried out for 892 station-times and 890 station-times respectively.
The number of stations being failed in the first gas verification test was decreased from 47 stations in 2012 to 6 stations in 2013, obviously showing a great decrease. This was mainly because those test stations being failed in gas verification were compelled to suspend offering test temporarily. Such a compelling act affected the income of these stations earned from tests and replacement of parts. Besides, during general checks of test stations the staff of the program also strengthened education of the staff of test stations, asking them to develop a habit of regular equipment maintenance. The strategies of education by auditing staff of the program and sorting out of the test stations with abnormal test data for strengthened auditing, had shown obvious performance.
In order to confirm whether there were any test stations having any deeds violating the management methods, real motorcycle check of blind samples was carried out for those motorcycle test stations with excessively high or excessively low failure rate, those being complained or reported by citizens, those found to have incomplete procedures during the checks and verification made by Environmental Protection Administration, those with motorcycles passed their regular test but failed in the tests when stopped by the police, and those of Environmental Protection Administration with abnormal quality index platform. And focusing on those with non-conforming test procedures, punishment was given. In 2012, there were 13 station-times punished. In 2013 more staff were disguised as general citizens to carry out real motorcycle check of blind samples, and motorcycles were changed irregularly. Therefore, there were 44 station-times punished in 2013, with an increase of 31 station-times when compared with the previous year. Besides, SF9 Chun Yi Motorcycle Company was found to have used other motorcycles to replace the original ones to take the test, and was thus punished to suspend its driver’s license for one year. In addition, there were 4 test stations appointing non-testing staff to carry out motorcycle test, and they were fined $15,000. As to the test stations violating the test procedures and being given penalty points in 2012 and 2013, they were finally re-checked, and most of them were improved.
3. Letter reply to handling of citizens’ reports of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke
For implementation of this program, in 2012 there were 23,633 cases of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke to be informed to take test, and 23,633 cases of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke being informed to take test. Among them, 17,314 motorcycles of different cases had their photographs passed the re-examination, and the reporters concerned were all given encouragement bonus, with a total amount of encouragement bonus $5,194,200 distributed. In 2013 there were 13,413 cases of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke to be informed to take test, and 13,413 cases of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke being informed to take test. Among them, 10,809 motorcycle-times of different cases had their photographs passed the re-examination, and a total amount of encouragement bonus $3,221,400 was distributed.
Regarding the operation of citizens’ reports of motorcycles with black exhaust smoke, the program appointed special staff to be responsible for handling them. Every day they checked online to see if there was any case not handled or resolved yet in order to ensure that cases were handled and replied timely. In 2013, for the rate of cases being informed to take test, the cases that should be punished and the timeliness of handling of the cases to be punished, Division 1 won the 1st prize; for bonus and prize distribution, Division 1 won the 3rd prize; and for abolition of website maintenance by Environmental Protection Administration and timeliness of the additionally increased encouragement bonus distribution, Division 1 won the 2nd prize.
4. Estimation of performance of air pollution reduction
The air pollution reduction achieved in this program was mainly caused by improvement of those motorcycles being failed in regular exhaust test via mechanical adjustment and reparation, as well as the statistical data of handing in for cancellation, registration for cancellation, report of revocation, report of suspension and theft of the old motorcycles with high degree of air pollution. According to the calculation results, the NMHC emission reduction amounts of the City in 2012 and 2013 were 246.5 tons and 400.4 tons respectively; and the CO emission reduction amounts were 1,459.7 tons and 2,047.5 tons respectively.
