The Make Cars Green campaign celebrated its one-year anniversary on 5 June, marking a full year of progress and growth, with new clubs still joining and launching their own national campaigns.
The Serbian Automobile Club (AMSS) is now actively promoting Make Cars Green throughout its network of more than 100 local clubs. The campaign is vital for Serbia, one of the most polluted countries in Europe, where leaded fuel is still produced and used, and the average age of vehicles is 15 years old.
The campaign was first presented at an event held in March 2009 during the Belgrade Car show. The AMSS presented a number of activities including the FIA Make Cars Green campaign, the AMSS Helmet Saves Your Head campaign and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), which carries out road inspections throughout Serbia.
In Bahrain, the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) agreed to promote Make Cars Green along with the organisers of the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship. All 16 supercars will display campaign stickers and all drivers will wear Make Cars Green wristbands to show their support.
BMF General Manager Abdul Aziz Al Thawadi said: “This is a great moment for the Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship and we are delighted to be part of this great initiative that was the brainchild of the FIA. Together with the Chevrolet Supercars we hope to spread awareness and get the public to think more proactively in the way they affect the world we live in.”
The Swedish Automobile Association (Motor-männen) has also been actively promoting the greener motoring message with the help of the club’s patrol vehicles. Patrol staff distribute Make Cars Green leaflets to the public and will promote the ‘10 points for greener motoring’ along Swedish highways where large volumes of motorists will be seen throughout the summer months. Motormännen has also been informing and educating drivers on how to practice eco-driving and directing them to the club’s environmental website www.snalbil.se.
The Make Cars Green campaign has also started to gain momentum across India, with nearly all members of the Federation of Indian Automobile Associations promoting the campaign. AA Eastern India launched the campaign in the Durgapur region on World Environment Day on 5 June in conjunction with a local fuel provider.
The Slovakian automobile club, SATC, has been actively promoting Make Cars Green messages as it receives visits from children at its traffic education playground. In Lebanon, the Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL) took to some frequently used roads to promote Make Cars Green directly to motorists.
In Slovenia, Avto-moto zveza Slovenije (AMZS) is planning to collect signatures in support of the campaign. The club is also organising a special event to mark the club’s 100th anniversary in September which will be attended by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk. The event will be a further opportunity for AMZS to promote Make Cars Green.
