TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario trucking industry stands to save $5 million per year thanks to changes to the province’s Drive Clean program, Environment Minister Laurel Broten announced on Friday.

Thanks to the revisions, only vehicles five years old and older will require Drive Clean certification. Previously, vehicles three years old and older also had to be tested, however, Broten said the majority of the newer vehicles passed the inspection.

“We’re shifting our focus to the vehicles that are most likely to pollute,” Broten told delegates at the Ontario Trucking Association management conference.

The $5 million in savings for the trucking industry will be realized as a result of fewer testing fees and less downtime, Broten said.

“Newer vehicles were passing Drive Clean more than 99 per cent of the time,” she said. “By focusing testing on vehicles most likely to pollute, we are protecting the air we breathe and improving the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.”

Broten also announced that as of Jan. 1, 2006 it will be a criminal offense to create, distribute or display false Drive Clean passes.