Skip to main content
NC DEQ logo NC DEQ

Topical Navigation

  • Home
  • Divisions
    Divisions
    • Air Quality
    • Coastal Management
    • Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
    • Environmental Assistance and Customer Service
    • Environmental Education and Public Affairs
    • Marine Fisheries
    • Mitigation Services
    • Waste Management
    • Water Infrastructure
    • Water Resources
  • Permits & Rules
    Permits & Rules
    • Permit Directory
    • State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
    • Express Permitting
    • DEQ Forms
    • Permit Assistance and Guidance
    • Rules & Regulations
    • Enforcement
    • NC DEQ ePayments
    • DEQ Permitting Transformation Program
    • Environmental Application Tracker
    • Pre-Regulatory Landfills Map
    • Title VI Compliance
    • Risk-Based Remediation
  • Outreach & Education
    Outreach & Education
    • N.C. Environmental Education
    • Distance Learning - Environmental Education
    • Environmental Justice
    • Educator Resources
    • Recognition Programs
    • Public Involvement Programs
    • Training
    • Recreation
    • Research
    • Grants
    • Conservation
    • Recycling
  • Energy & Climate
    Energy & Climate
    • Energy Group
    • Climate Change
    • Community Solar
    • Energy Assurance
    • Energy Efficiency and Weatherization
    • Energy Resilience
    • Transportation
    • Workforce Development
    • Offshore Wind Development
  • News
    News
    • Press Releases
    • Public Information Contacts
    • Environmentally Speaking Blog
    • Public Notices & Hearings
    • Events
    • Key Issues
    • DEQ Dashboard
    • Legislative Reports
    • Requesting Public Records
  • About
    About
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership
    • Boards and Commissions
    • Divisions
    • Green Square
    • Contact
    • Work at DEQ
  • NC.GOV
  • AGENCIES
  • JOBS
  • SERVICES
NC DEQ »   About »   Divisions »   Air Quality »   Air Quality Outreach & Education »   Air Quality Public Involvement Programs »   NC Air Awareness »   Teachers and Students »   Vehicle Emissions Reduction Activities (VERA)

Vehicle Emissions Reduction Activities (VERA)

About VERA

The Vehicle Emissions Reduction Activities (VERA) program provides supplemental curricula and education materials for Driver’s Education programs in North Carolina. These educational materials focus on the responsibility that drivers have to protect their environment when making choices involving their vehicle.

For more information, to schedule a program, or to become a VERA partner, please contact N.C. Air Awareness at: air.awareness@ncdenr.gov

Resources

  • VERA informational booklet (pdf)
  • VERA presentation (pptx)
  • Driving choices and calculating car emissions 

Personal Driving Choices that can Protect Our Air

Car Choice

When we choose a car, there are many factors to consider: Cost, Reliability, Looks, and our Individual Needs. We as consumers should look for the cleanest car that meets our travel and lifestyle needs.

Vehicle Maintenance

Making sure that the car you’re driving is well-maintained can help to reduce air pollution. Things like maintaining proper tire inflation, wheel alignment, clean oil filters, and clean fluids can decrease emissions and increase fuel efficiency.

How You Drive

The way you drive and handle your car can improve air quality and increase your car’s fuel efficiency. Practices such as accelerating slowly, maintaining the speed limit, and turning the car off instead of idling are beneficial for both air quality and your vehicle.

Alternative Transportation

By choosing alternatives to driving alone in the car, we can reduce air pollution in North Carolina. Using public transit, carpooling combining trips, and walking or taking your bike are all ways to reduce our vehicle emissions and save money. For more information on alternative transportation methods, check out our Commuter Options page!

VERA Driving School Partners

N.C. Air Awareness is partnering with Driving Schools across North Carolina to become VERA partners and facilitators of the VERA program. All privately owned and school district driver’s education programs in North Carolina are eligible to become a partner. 

Partners can request guest lecturers and presentations from N.C. Air Awareness staff. Additionally, driving school partners receive access to our teen driver materials which include:

· Branded keychains

· Car stickers

· Tire pressure gauges

· Informational brochures

· Student manual

· Instructor materials

For more information, please contact N.C. Air Awareness at: air.awareness@ncdenr.gov

Teachers and Students

  • AQ-IQ Contest for Seventh Grade
  • Girl Scouts Program
  • Vehicle Emissions Reduction Activities (VERA)
  • Lichen or Not?

Share this page:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

How can we make this page better for you?

Back to top

Contact Us

Physical Address
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
217 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603 Map It
877-623-6748

Mailing Addresses

Work for Us

  • Job Opportunities at DEQ
  • For State Employees
  • DEQ Intranet

Twitter Feed

Tweets by NC DEQ

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • DEQ Employee Directory
  • Translation Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Open Budget
NC DEQ
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-outreach-education/air-quality-public-involvement-programs/nc-air-awareness/teachers-and-students/vehicle-emissions-reduction-activities-vera