Van Drivers Confused by Smoking Laws

October 12th, 2007 | by admin |

New smoking laws are leaving many company vehicle drivers confused.

Nearly half of van drivers were unaware of the new regulations, a survey by Vansunited.co.uk found. And only 22% were being given support to help them avoid smoking in their vans, the survey showed.

Of the 1,073 van drivers polled, only 51% had been provided with ‘no smoking’ stickers for their vans, leaving thousands of companies open to fines of up to £1,000 for non-display of signs.

Almost a third (32%) of van drivers smoke, according to Vansunited, with nearly all of them having done so previously in their vehicle before the ban.

A lorry driver was recently fined for smoking inside his cab. The man was spotted by a council dog warden in North Wales and fined £75 for smoking in his workplace.

According to reports, he was also fined a further £75 for throwing his cigarette butt out of the window and made to pay £30 investigation costs, £65 legal costs and a £15 victim surcharge.