SAN ANGELO, TX — ‘Drive Clean Texas’ is the summer motto for the Texas Department of Transportation.
The campaign wants all motorists to take pride in keeping the air clean during some of the hottest months of the year.
Karen Threlkeld with TxDOT says there are easy ways you can do your part in keeping emissions out of the air.
"Instead of filling up in the mid part of the day, fill up in the morning or in the evening," said Threlkeld.
And when you hear that click from the gas pump that’s it; don’t top it off.
"Because fumes can escape when you top it off," said Threlkeld
Also help prevent unnecessary emissions from being released from your vehicle by avoiding aggressive stops and rapid starts.
"Just simply check the air pressure in your tires," said Threlkeld.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, summertime ozone levels remain a concern as vehicle emissions continue to make up half of the air pollution in some areas of our state
"We don’t have to worry about emissions so much in our area in rural West Texas. but the big cities that we travel to Houston, Dallas, and El Paso do have bad air quality," said Threlkeld.
Wide open spaces and the absence of sky scrapers help smaller West Texas cities maintain a healthier air quality. And we can keep that true by also keeping our vehicles well maintained.
Drive Clean Texas: Emission levels in San Angelo
TxDOT is kicking off the summer with a new campaign. They're asking drivers to do their part in keeping Texas clean. Our Brenda Matute has more.