being inside a closed car.

To be fair, some things are better than they once were. The new Government buses belch far fewer fumes than some of their predecessors. However noxious fumes can be a real problem during rush hours. especially on the stretch of road from East Broadway to the Paget traffic lights.

Extreme pollution sometimes depends on the day. On still days which are humid or damp the pollution is much worse than when a sea breeze is blowing and takes it away.

The fact is that there can be controls and Bermuda has never bothered much about them. That has gone on despite the very high concentration of vehicles on the roads. We now lag behind many other countries. The report has suggested tougher Transport Control Department testing to measure pollution, with vehicles which fail being put off the road. That is not a frightening idea since the TCD tests for so many other parts of vehicles.

The report says that an inspection and maintenance programme for vehicles similar to those in other countries could achieve "immediate reduction'' in toxic exhaust fumes. The long-term solution, it says, is to adopt US and European standards. Surely a Country which does not want more than one inspection sticker on a windshield does not want pollution. While they are at it, the TCD might pay much greater attention to noisy vehicles because noise is also pollution.

According to the report, visitors do not expect to find motor vehicle pollution when they visit Bermuda.

"Due to a lack of control on Bermuda's motor vehicle fleet, tourists are often doused with motor vehicle exhaust, particularly from diesel-powered vehicles and motor cycles. In fact, tourists often cite objectionable motor vehicle pollution during exit polls.'' We see pollution as part of an overall need to protect Bermuda's environment and to protect people. The report says, "Motor vehicles emit significant quantities of toxic compounds and contribute to urban haze and soiling problems.'' They can also cause health problems including asthma, especially asthma in children.

It seems to us that it is simply a matter of common sense to protect ourselves from these problems. We can only hope that Bermuda will pay attention to the report and that, unlike so may other reports, we will take action.