VEHICLE emissions will drop 50% by 2015 even if traffic volumes grow, and emissions have already dropped 25% in the last five years as a result of catalytic converters. With 'green' taxes at the forefront of the political agenda, a new report dispels the link that traffic growth means higher toxic emissions.

Tracking Emissions from UK Vehicle Exhausts is a new quarterly index produced for the AA by the National Environment Technology Centre. It reveals that catalytic converters have been the key in ensuring emission reductions in the last five years.

However, with fleets fearing new 'green' taxes are on the way in addition to an expected rise in fuel prices the new report says vehicles are becoming cleaner. AA policy director John Dawson said: 'Motorists have understood and accepted the need to pay the extra costs of catalytic converters because they can see a simple practical benefit - unlike the dubious and inefficient practice of adding 5% extra tax to fuel every year.'