Road Safety Week 2017: Smoking in Vehicles a Road Safety Hazard

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Smoking in vehicles presents not just a health hazard but also a road safety hazard, say experts even as Kerala joins the rest of the country in observing the Road Safety Week 2017. This is in line with the World Health Organisation’s categorisation of smoking in vehicles as among the main internal sources of driver distraction.
Driving is an activity that requires the total attention of the driver at all times. Distraction, as defined by the WHO, is the diversion of attention away from activities critical for safe driving. Accessing and lighting a cigarette within a car causes both physical and mental distraction, taking the attention of the driver away from the road and creating a remarkable road safety risk, studies point out.
Dr BG Sreedevi, Director, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) said, “Considering that smoking in public vehicles is a deterrent to passenger safety and health, we have initiated steps to incorporate these questions in our research studies in the coming financial year. We are hopeful that the survey results would help our policy makers get an understanding of any smoking prevalence in our public vehicles and lead them to take steps for strengthening tobacco control implementation.”
Anil Kumar Pandala, Associate Vice President, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd., said, “It is time we started thinking about integrated campaigns to address public health issues, whether it be road safety or tobacco control.”
“Smoking reduces the alertness of the driver. Distraction of the driver is inevitable as fumes of a lit cigarette impair his vision and even more dangerous is a cigarette falling onto his lap or seat. Stringent steps taken to curb smoking in vehicles will only serve to enhance road safety, both of which are intended at public well-being,” added Pandala, an expert in the transportation sector.
Significantly, studies have found that second-hand smoke in cars can be extremely high because of the limited area available for smoke circulation. Canadian research has shown that a single cigarette smoked in a stationary car with its windows closed can produce a level of second-hand smoke 11 times higher than in a closed room.
The Transport Commissioner had, in 2015, issued directions to all Deputy Transport Commissioners, Regional Transport Officers and Joint Regional Transport Officers to take action against any instances of smoking in public conveyances, bus depots and transport bus stands. Officials including Ticket Conductors/Collectors and above have been authorised under the Indian tobacco control law COTPA, 2003 to fine smokers in public conveyances. Violations can invite a fine of up to Rs 200.
Pictorial ‘No Smoking’ signages have to be displayed in all public vehicles at a prominent place, as mandated by Section 4 of the Act. Inspections for vehicle registration and fitness certificate issuance will check that the said pictorial signages are exhibited in the vehicle.
Similarly, directions have been issued to ensure that there are no direct and indirect advertisements, sponsorship of tobacco products on public conveyances, as mandated by Section 5 of COTPA.
Offences under COTPA – violations of Section 4 and 5 – will form part of the monthly checking report of the Department. These directions are binding on all public conveyances incl
uding autos, taxis, and private buses.
Also, the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 earmarks smoking while driving public service vehicles as one of the points of disqualification, and empowers the licensing authority to cancel the driving licence.