Breathe easier with cleaner cars

The next time you fight traffic on the way to work, consider this: Across Canada, 18 million people may be doing the same. Canadians drove 316 billion kilometres last year, according to Statistics Canada's 2002 Vehicle Survey.

Automobiles are a major source of air pollution, as well as contributors to numerous health problems including asthma and respiratory illness. Smog alone kills an estimated 5,000 people each year in Canada.

Environmental Defence Canada's "Cleaner Cars for Better Health" campaign encourages us to make a difference. Every litre of gas saved prevents 2.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Choose fuel-efficient cars, hybrid electric, or alternative fuel cars and conserve fuel through good driving habits. Maintain correct tire pressure. Avoid idling your car, and plan your driving around heavy traffic times.

Top 10 "Greenest" and "Meanest" Cars of 2003

10 "Greenest" Vehicles:

1. Honda Insight
2. Toyota Prius
3. Honda Civic Hybrid
4. Toyota Echo
5. Toyota Corolla
6. Honda Civic
7. Nissan Sentra
8. Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
9. Hyundai Accent
10. Toyota Celica

10 "Meanest" Vehicles:

1. Ferrari Enzo Ferrari
2. Lamborghini L-147 Murcielago
3. GMC Yukon XL K2500
4. Chevrolet Suburban K2500
5. GMC Sierra K2500/Chevrolet Silverado K2500 HD
6. Land Rover Range Rover
7. GMC Sierra Denali
8. Cadillac Escalade/GMC Yukon Denali*
9. Hummer H2
10. Ferrari 456M GT/GTA

*These tied with Cadillac Escalade ESV, Cadillac Escalade EST and GMC Yukon XL.

Source: Environmental Defence Canada, edcanada.org, and The Environmental Guide to Cars & Trucks 2003 by the American Council for an Energy Economy.