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Health & Fitness

Frederick County Among Lowest in State for Vehicle Emissions Test Failures

By Villages of Urbana

The residents of Frederick County exhibit a lot of great qualities – hardworking, friendly, and according to recent information from the Maryland Department of the Environment, environmentally conscientious.

Frederick County recently tied with Carroll County for the third lowest vehicle emissions testing fail rate in the state, according to the data. This is important for a few reasons – first, less vehicles failing emissions testing means less vehicles are emitting excess fumes, resulting in cleaner air for residents. Second, cleaner air has a positive impact on the environment as a whole, and less pollution helps to maintain the natural beauty of the Frederick County area.

At Villages of Urbana, we’re proud to be a member of the Frederick County community, and we’re happy to report that our residents can breathe a little easier knowing that the majority of their fellow drivers are reducing their impact on the environment.

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According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, vehicle miles traveled in the United States have increased 40% since 1990 – but thankfully, emissions have been reduced by half within that time. A spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment said that emissions testing has played a large role in this decline, accounting for about 40% of improvement.

Drivers may not think that their vehicles have a large impact on pollution, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, cars and trucks collectively are the greatest contributor to smog and carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. In fact, in some cities, vehicles contribute 70 percent of ozone-forming emissions, and a whopping 90 percent of carbon monoxide emissions. Emissions testing ensures that this impact on the environment is minimized.

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The following are key points to keep in mind when discussing emissions testing:


• The best way to ensure that you pass an emissions test is by keeping your vehicle properly maintained. Poorly maintained vehicles wear out quickly, burn more gas and emit more pollution that properly maintained vehicles.


• If your check engine light is on during your emissions test, your vehicle automatically fails.


• The vast majority of vehicles that fail an emissions test have the incorrect amount of oxygen going into the engine. If the vehicle’s oxygen sensor is not correctly measuring oxygen intake to the engine, the car may burn more fuel than necessary in order to match the sensor’s reading. This results in low fuel efficiency and higher levels of pollution.

At Villages of Urbana, we care deeply about the wellbeing of our residents and their families, as well as the health of our environment. We’re proud to be a part of this Frederick County community that is committed to improving quality of life for its residents. This commitment is only one of the reasons that Frederick County is an ideal place to live, and Villages of Urbana residents know that there’s no better place within the county to live or buy a home than our neighborhood. Being only five miles from the Montgomery County line gives us access to the best that both Montgomery and Frederick counties have to offer, and at a value that’s tough to beat.

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