When were train drivers banned from smoking in the cab?

[Dentonian]

A driving cab is a workplace and therefore smoking is not allowed. Anyone who is caught smoking in there would be disciplined up to and including dismissal. It's classed as gross misconduct at my TOC.

And a criminal offence under the 2006 Health Act. Digressing slightly but time was when many employers wouldn't employ anyone with a criminal record. Nowadays you see loads of people committing crime in works uniforms and/or works vehicles.

 

[matt_world2004]

isnt it also potentially dangerous if the driver drops it on himself and becomes distracted because he has burnt himself

 

[goblinuser]

And a criminal offence under the 2006 Health Act. Digressing slightly but time was when many employers wouldn't employ anyone with a criminal record. Nowadays you see loads of people committing crime in works uniforms and/or works vehicles.

It's hardly a terrible 'crime'. Doesn't really affect anyone significantly.

 

[Joe Paxton]

I was on a Bakerloo line train the other day sitting behind the drivers cab and I'm sure the driver was having a fly fag in between stations as I could "taste" the smoke on my mouth and smell it slightly. (There was no-one else in the coach that I could see smoking).

I wonder if it was on/from someone's clothes?

I only say that because I find it hard to imagine a Tube driver would have a fag in the cab, given LU's strict no smoking rule.

 

[Dentonian]

It's hardly a terrible 'crime'. Doesn't really affect anyone significantly.

Totally disagree! Apart from being implicated in 77.000 deaths annually, cigarettes are the most putrid smelling abomination. They give me headaches and, aggravate my rhinitis (hay fever). Given the majority of offenders against the original by-laws (at least on single-deckers) were kids, I'm absolutely amazed the law has been adhered to comparatively well on buses, although still widely abused in bus stations.

 

[Bromley boy]

But when did they actually ban drivers from smoking in the cab?

The message apparently still hasn't reached quite a few drivers, especially those of a more old school mindset.

And is selfish and shows no consideration to their colleagues who then have to sit in it. Same applies to those who eat stinking hot food and leave the mess in the cab.

Windows down on a cold day is a dead give away too. It is also another way of showing zero respect for the following colleague who has to occupy that cab

Yes agreed. It is certainly selfish, unprofessional and disrespectful to one's colleagues. I'm not sure I find it more annoying than people leaving general food mess and clutter in cabs.

And a criminal offence under the 2006 Health Act. Digressing slightly but time was when many employers wouldn't employ anyone with a criminal record. Nowadays you see loads of people committing crime in works uniforms and/or works vehicles.

This is a bit of a silly comment. It's not a recordable offence so wouldn't lead to a criminal record. It's hardly what most people would think of as a crime.

 

[goblinuser]

Totally disagree! Apart from being implicated in 77.000 deaths annually, cigarettes are the most putrid smelling abomination. They give me headaches and, aggravate my rhinitis (hay fever). Given the majority of offenders against the original by-laws (at least on single-deckers) were kids, I'm absolutely amazed the law has been adhered to comparatively well on buses, although still widely abused in bus stations.

Key word: significantly. You're hardly going to die after breathing a whiff of tobacco.
Some people on transport smell of urine and feces, which in my opinion is worse than smoke, let's ban them.

 

[Dentonian]

This is a bit of a silly comment. It's not a recordable offence so wouldn't lead to a criminal record. It's hardly what most people would think of as a crime.

I would regard it as assault. And what the *** is an unrecordable offence?

 

[Dentonian]

Key word: significantly. You're hardly going to die after breathing a whiff of tobacco.
Some people on transport smell of urine and feces, which in my opinion is worse than smoke, let's ban them.

A whiff? What about numerous whiffs inside an enclosed environment on a daily basis for 4+ years? I doubt Roy Castle's widow would agree with your comment.

And I daren't guess what "transport" you are riding on. The worst I've experience (other than inhaling carcinogens) on buses, is the occasional - very occasional - fellow passenger with BO. Then again, I don't use Night Buses.......

 

[goblinuser]

I would regard it as assault. And what the *** is an unrecordable offence?

Breathing in some tobacco is assault now? Get a grip.

 

[Bromley boy]

I would regard it as assault. And what the *** is an unrecordable offence?

It's absolutely not an assault!

Look up the difference between recordable and non-recordable offences. Recordable generally means more serious offences, for which records can be kept on the police national computer, finger prints can be taken etc.

Non recordable offences would be things like speeding tickets.

 

[thenorthern]

The Smoking ban in England of course came in on July 1st 2007 although the Scottish smoking ban came in on 26 March 2006 which affected cross border trains. Other than the sleeper GNER was the last operator to ban smoking on trains in August 2005 but I don't know if smoking in the cab was allowed at that point.

 

[Chris M]

And I daren't guess what "transport" you are riding on. The worst I've experience (other than inhaling carcinogens) on buses, is the occasional - very occasional - fellow passenger with BO. Then again, I don't use Night Buses.......

There was one occasion where I travelled from Oxford to home (east London) using the train, tube, DLR and bus. I had a thoroughly blocked nose at the time so it wasn't until I got home that I realised it wasn't my cold causing people to give me a wide berth but the dog mess I had apparently trodden in in Oxford...

 

[driver_m]

To be fair to my colleagues who smoke at VT, they respect the ban fully. Been a long, long time since I could smell it in a cab .Probably much more easy now to vape as it is a more pleasant smell and doesn't leave a lingering smell or ash.

 

[DarloRich]

A driving cab is a workplace and therefore smoking is not allowed. Anyone who is caught smoking in there would be disciplined up to and including dismissal. It's classed as gross misconduct at my TOC.

Correct - but it still happens I am sure

Would that also include smoking in the cab of shunters and freight trains on non passenger lines?

yes - same as a company vehicle

 

[Scotrail84]

158s still have ashtrays, at least some of them do. 170s have had theirs superglued shut.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Totally disagree! Apart from being implicated in 77.000 deaths annually, cigarettes are the most putrid smelling abomination. They give me headaches and, aggravate my rhinitis (hay fever). Given the majority of offenders against the original by-laws (at least on single-deckers) were kids, I'm absolutely amazed the law has been adhered to comparatively well on buses, although still widely abused in bus stations.

Sadly it's bus drivers who tend to be the most regular offenders!

 

[dk1]

Not necessarily. I often have a window open on even the coldest days as a way of staying alert when flagging a little.
(It also lets a bit of warmth in on some of our 156's! )

Defiantly a giveaway when both windows are down in DVT &/or Loco. No other reason for it with A/C.

 

[axlecounter]

To be fair to my colleagues who smoke at VT, they respect the ban fully. Been a long, long time since I could smell it in a cab .Probably much more easy now to vape as it is a more pleasant smell and doesn't leave a lingering smell or ash.

Is vaping compared to smoking or is it regulated at all?

 

[dk1]

Is vaping compared to smoking or is it regulated at all?

Vaping comes under the same rules although I must agree it can have the same scent as a Woodwick Candle.

 

[whhistle]

Could a driver cancel a train if the cab honks (I mean, a lot more than an unpleasant smell) of smoke?

 

[dk1]

Could a driver cancel a train if the cab honks (I mean, a lot more than an unpleasant smell) of smoke?

Of course. It's been done & the previous driver ended up being disciplined.

 

[theageofthetra]

Could a driver cancel a train if the cab honks (I mean, a lot more than an unpleasant smell) of smoke?

Yes. It's a difficult one as the reason may be someone passing in the rear cab smoking rather than the previous driver.

 

[HowardGWR]

158s still have ashtrays, at least some of them do. 170s have had theirs superglued shut.

That's interesting. GWR* steam crew were not allowed to smoke on the footplate and I always assumed that the other lines had the same rule. You never see a photo of crew smoking. It was a disciplinary offence. Of course they did, out of sight, but that's another matter.

* I am of course referring to the real one.

 

[Eccles1983]

Vaping comes under the same rules although I must agree it can have the same scent as a Woodwick Candle.

It doesnt.

Smoking is the burning of tobacco or tobacco like substances for the purpose of inhaling.

Vaping doesnt burn tobacco. It is not covered under the same legislation. Company policy might say no, but legally it doesnt fall foul.

Makes me laugh a bit all these hyper sensitive people who claim a bit of tab smoke sets them off. Yet they are happy to sit on a train that emits massive amounts of diesel particles into the air and cabins.

I dont smoke. But I wouldnt go dobbing people in for having a sly smoke whilst driving - anything that keeps a driver happy and alert is good enough for me.

 

[Dentonian]

Sadly it's bus drivers who tend to be the most regular offenders!

They are certainly amongst the worst offenders in bus stations - though more especially within the two meter zone outside the enclosed shelter. Fortunately, it is relatively rare to see bus drivers smoking on their vehicle nowadays. In fact, the only two examples I can recall in recent years was a driver of a now defunct operator happily puffing away on stand in Oldham Bus Station, and the driver of a rail replacement bus run by a Bolton company that do not run mainstream buses, stood on the platform (doors open, but he was well inside the bus) on Piccadllly approach a few months ago.

 

[Juniper Driver]

158s still have ashtrays, at least some of them do. 170s have had theirs superglued shut.

So do 444 and 450's.

Lazy and selfish, but I don't think you can get lung cancer and various other diseases from passive coffee cup disposing of.

No but a few times I have been splashed because said container had some sort of liquid in it.Also when it's spilt the cab as I found with drinking chocolate on the floor it makes the floor all sticky

 

[Dentonian]

Is vaping compared to smoking or is it regulated at all?

I've often wondered that, but in terms of the spirit of the law, its not the same. As mentioned in another reply, vaping doesn't stink like nicotene, although the odd one I've smelt has been like a heavily diluted fag - and AFAIK there has never been any suggestion that vaping threatens the lives/health of non-vapers/smokers.

 

[Dentonian]

It's absolutely not an assault!

Look up the difference between recordable and non-recordable offences. Recordable generally means more serious offences, for which records can be kept on the police national computer, finger prints can be taken etc.

Non recordable offences would be things like speeding tickets.

Try convincing my lungs and nasal passages, it isn't Assault. Yes, it might sound melodramatic, but I judge on the spirit of the Law, not the letter. With all the widespread knowledge of the damage caused by smoking to people's health, anyone that smokes close to a stranger clearly has no regard for that person, so in my mind is quite likely to commit premeditated violence in other circumstances. Its noticable that there used to be a pattern with unprovoked attacks (including murder) late at night, that the media would report that the attacker approached the victim and asked for "a light".

Just to clarify recordable and non recordable concerns the recording of the offend*er*, not he offence. ie. It isn't used to suggest that "minor" offences don't actually exist.

 

[Intermodal]

Try convincing my lungs and nasal passages, it isn't Assault. Yes, it might sound melodramatic, but I judge on the spirit of the Law, not the letter. With all the widespread knowledge of the damage caused by smoking to people's health, anyone that smokes close to a stranger clearly has no regard for that person, so in my mind is quite likely to commit premeditated violence in other circumstances. Its noticable that there used to be a pattern with unprovoked attacks (including murder) late at night, that the media would report that the attacker approached the victim and asked for "a light".

Just to clarify recordable and non recordable concerns the recording of the offend*er*, not he offence. ie. It isn't used to suggest that "minor" offences don't actually exist.

So to clarify, you are suggesting that a driver who smokes in a cab at work is more likely to be a murderer?