As usual I was up before I went to bed this morning, I just caught the tail end of an item on the BBC News, something about smoking in Private Cars in Wales. So I thought I'd keep us all up to date with what we, as Knights of the Road, can expect if we are caught at it!!! A £50 Fine (reduced to £30 if paid within 15 Days) if caught smoking in a Company Vehicle, this includes Company Cars and Vans. or a maximum of £200 if taken to Court and convicted. £200 Fine for failing to display a 'No Smoking' Sign in your Vehicle(reduced to £150 if paid within 15 Days) This Fine would be imposed on the Driver and his Manager. or a maximum of £1000 if taken to Court and convicted. A £2500 Fine for anyone in control of Premises for allowing Smoking, except in a designated area. Time to stop Smoking? Nah, I can still afford it!!!!!
Mmmm, difficult one this. I used to work for a firm where drivers were allocated vehicles and as part of the job, were expected to live in them. Trips across the water were a regular feature of the work we did and to go away for two or three weeks at a time was fairly common. I have been away for over four weeks on a couple of occasions. Under these conditions, it seems ridiculous to expect the smokers not to smoke in their cabs, but equally, I expected people to treat my second home with the same respect if it was used whilst I was on Holiday. Would you walk into a non smoking workmates house and light up without a second thought? I will assume not, so why do it in his lorry? I now work for a company where very few vehicles are allocated so generally you would only drive the same lorry for a couple of days at a time and nights out are few and far between. I feel therefore that I can tolerate other lads smoking more than I would have previously. It is curious how different companies regard the smoking laws. I have worked for a firm where it was taken very seriously, but most turn a blind eye, as long as people don't take the piss by smoking whilst in the yard or in view of the office etc, etc. Just another law for people to ignore or pay lip service to.
I used to smoke anything up to 60 a day until 5 years ago. I have a truck allocated to me that I spend 4 or 5 nights out a week in and sometimes it gets used for local work when I am off. So long as the cab is clean, doesn't smell and the ash tray hasn't been used then I don't mind too much. It's 1 of them things as far as I am concerned. At the end of the day, the more people who smoke then the cheaper my NI contributions will be (in theory anyway!) Just don't blow your stinking fumes in my face!
I must admit that I am a Smoker, however I do not smoke in any Company Vehicles, not even my Co. car or my house (back step under canopy) I can appreciate how a non-smoker feels when detailed to drive a smokers Vehicle but unless we catch them actually smoking, there's not a great deal we can do. The last time I went up to Scotland to run their CPC, I stopped in the first layby at the end of the A66, about 1930hrs on a very foggy November Sunday, they must have thought "Who is this idiot leaning against a Saab, having a fag, in this weather" YA, twas I.
As a non-smoker there's nowt worse then jumping in a cab grabbing the wheel and your hand comes away stinking off stale smoke. I had to do a cab swap up by Scotch Corner a few weeks ago. The other driver was waiting for me sat in his cab with a Hamlet on the go. I politely asked him to finish his cigar in the fresh air whilst I dropped my trailer to give enough time for the fumes to clear. He told me to fook off! Fair enough I thought bearing in mind I still had his regular unit at this point. Just prior to swapping over, I emptied the ashtray all over the dash. He wasn't too chuffed even when I offered him my phone to complain direct to the Operations Director.
Careful what laybys you stop at for a smoke arters, unless cottageing is your thing lol
Wansford, Barton Mills, Bretton, Haughley Bends, Tog Hill, Birdlip, Wisley, Colsterworth Wood, Brampton........another Driver told me about them....honest.
I am very confused by your laws about smoking in a company vehicle, probably because I do not understand the your psyche. If I am reading the "law" correctly because the vehicle I drive is owned by my company, a company I own, I cannot smoke in that vehicle even though nobody else drives or uses it. Somebody tell me I am wrong but isn't some interfering busy body infringing my civil liberties?
This may answer your question but bear it in mind that it is only the UK we are looking at, it could be different on the Continent. "On July 1st 2007, England introduced a new law to make virtually all enclosed Public places and Workplaces in the UK smoke free" Smoke Free Vehicles The new Law requires Vehicles to be Smoke free at all times if they are used: 1. To transport members of the Public....(Coaches and Buses.) 2. In the course of paid or voluntary work by more than one person - regardless of whether they are in the Vehicle at the same time....(any Vehicle with more than one seat.) 3. All Company Vehicles, LGV, Cars and Vans are owned by the Company and this Law applies. If you are caught Smoking in any of our Vehicles it is a Criminal Offence and will be treated by the relevant Authorities, you will also be subject to the Company Disciplinary Procedures.
But the police in England will not enforce it, it is council officials who have to enforce it. Most councils dont have an enforcer because they cant afford one.
