Business vehicles lead on no-smoking regs

Date: 14 August 2007

Fleets flouting vehicle-smoking ban could face fines

Data from the Department for Health has shown that 98% of company car users are obeying the new no-smoking laws for England, 1% better than the overall figure for work places.

Interestingly the DfH's survey, covering the first two weeks of the new law, also highlighted that only 84% of company cars had the correct signage displayed. However, this was also better than the 79% of buildings required to show signage.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo, said: "When we introduced the smokefree law last month, we predicted it would be largely self-enforcing based on experience elsewhere and the fact that three-quarters of the public supported the move.

"These figures confirm that, just as happened previously in Ireland then Scotland, England saw very high levels of compliance in the first few days. All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride.

"These high levels of real protection from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces are a testament to everyone involved. Efforts from enforcement officers in local authorities and businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector and also the public have all contributed to making this country a healthier place in which to work and socialise."

The data for the survey was collected from 88,899 inspections, which included 1,090 hotels, 6,783 restaurants and 9,568 licensed premises, the DfH did not reveal how many company cars were surveyed.

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