FLEET managers are being urged to plough thousands of pounds into carrying out emissions testing on their new cars instead of waiting for the first MoT in a bid to cut down on pollution. The call was made by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, as he announced the results of the society's Stop Fuming! Campaign.

About 4,000 vehicles underwent emission checks at 330 sites in the UK in the last week of September - aimed at encouraging motorists to help improve air quality. Macgowan said: 'Fleet vehicles are high-mileage vehicles and if we are to take our environmental responsibility seriously fleet managers should give their vehicles an emissions check after the first and second years.' Currently there is no legal requirement to check on emissions until a vehicle's first MoT at three years old.

Macgowan's call, which would involve dealers carrying out the five-minute checks at a price of about £10 per vehicle, follows a similar call made by the Retail Motor Industry Federation for annual emissions tests. Two fleets already carry out their own emissions testing. Transco has been checking its 6,300 vans and lorries with the Freight Transport Association for the past three years. Hampshire Constabulary has also been carrying out in-house emissions tests for the past three years.