Introduction of compulsory technical inspections and its impact on health: Tbilisi case

Abstract

Introduction. Atmospheric air pollution poses a big threat to health in Georgia. The main pollutant of urban environment is auto transport. To fight atmospheric air pollution, Georgian government has implemented step by step law about vehicle inspection, starting from 2018. The purpose of this survey is to determine how ready and in which case are owners of technically crooked light vehicles ready to give up using their technically crooked cars? The goal of this research is to provide policy implication for government, in order for them to make new law work more effectively. Methodology. This study relies on 12 in depth interviews and includes following segments: 1) Taxi Drivers, with his/her own technically crooked vehicle 2) Owners of technically crooked car 3) Individuals without car, who have ability to buy a car. Result. As research demonstrated, for law to work more effectively, government needs to focus on the following steps: 1. Organizing public transportation 2. Informing population about threats that pollution of atmospheric air poses to health and also what role does technically crooked car play in this 3. Establishing a low-cost loan in order for people to either buy new cars or repair existing ones, with the support of government and banks. 4. Control should be set over fuel quality.