SMOG - Alert

SMOG

With winter approaching Santiago, the smog is increasing. To combat this, the government has put in place certain restrictions to help lower the smog admissions.

One of the steps taken is to restrict when vehicles maybe drive during a ‘Metropolitan Region Environmental Alert’. These alerts usually start in May and run through August. I am not sure this is really helps, as Santiago has had this restriction in place since the 1980’s, and with the increase of number of cars being registered not sure that they are really gaining ground . They do need to do more in the area of the local buses, as this is one of the biggest polluters due to the buses being old. The alerts   are posted on, the web, http://www.uoct.cl/uoct/inicio.jsp. Some of restrictions are vehicles with no catalytic converter are limited on when they can drive. There are usually four numbers, and if you license number ends with one of these you may not drive that day. Restrictions may can apply  with vehicles with catalytic converters also.

Another restriction is the use of wood stoves, again if there is an alert prohibiting the use of a wood stove is posted on, the web http://www.uoct.cl/uoct/inicio.jsp . The problems with wood stoves here in Chile are they do not have catalytic converters, like the one in the United States.  This restriction is also hard to enforce. Where we live, we were told this is not always enforced. In addition, there are people who not only heat but also cook with wood.

Well time to go.