Transportation and logistics industry has approximately 200,000 labour force. Smoking is hazardous to health, a number of medical researches show that one in every two smokers will die early from smoking. On average, smoking shortens the life span of smokers for 15 years. Secondhand smoke and third-hand smoke in transport carriers also affect the health of passengers. (Visit information centre for more details.)

Besides, smoking could affect driving. Vehicle accidents may be caused by the distraction of lighting up, smoking and the scattering of ashes. Also, studies found that smokers appear 1.5 times more likely to suffer motor vehicle crash than non-smokers, the distraction of driving for smoking is higher than using mobile phone, leading to higher risk of accidents.

In order to protect the health of employees in the transportation and logistics industry and the public, the Hong Kong council on Smoking and Heath (COSH) organizes the “Smoke-free Drivers” programme and received full support from different industrial organizations and associations to promote the important of healthy lifestyle, bringing positive impacts on the occupational safety and health, productivity and professional image of drivers, as well as promoting smoke-free messages to different stakeholders including drivers, customers and the public.

Recruitment of “Smoke-free Driver’s Club” member

To protect the health of general public, drivers and passengers should not smoke in vehicles whether there are any passengers present. “Smoke-free Drivers Club” is open to all drivers, passengers and companies/organizations in the transportation and logistics industry to join. Let’s say no to smoking and encourage smokers to quit smoking for a vibrant, healthy living, as well as enjoying a refreshing, comfortable and safe journey!

Corporate Members would apply for free smoke-free health talk, smoking cessation service referrals and promotional materials for promoting smoke-free messages to their employees. Each member will receive an electronic certificate as an encouragement. Members are welcome to encourage their employees to join “Smoke-free Driver’s Club” as individual member and participate in smoke-free activities.

Individual members can participate in the prize quiz, Member can share their experience on smoking cessation OR Smoke-free Vision after registration, 100 winners with most encouraging or meaningful messages would win a HK$300 petrol station gift voucher. Details will be announced on this website and the “Smoke-free Family” Facebook page.

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No person may do a smoking act in a public transport carrier under section 4 of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), Public transport carriers include any public bus, public light bus, taxi, Mass Transit Railway train, Kowloon-Canton Railway train, light rail vehicle, tramway car, peak tramway car, or ferry vessel. The driver, conductor, ticket inspector, ticket collector, or managers of any public transport carrier are empowered in enforcing tobacco control measures.

No person may do a smoking act in designated NSAs, or else will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500.

Since 1 January 2007, all indoor public transport interchanges were designated as NSAs. Since 1 September 2009, the Government has also designated NSAs in public transport facilities (PTFs) by phases for those areas identified as fulfilling the criteria as set out in section 3(1AB) of Cap. 371. There are currently 260 PTFs designated as NSAs.

At present, there are 3 types of PTFs with the designation of NSAs
Indoor public transport interchanges
Public transport facilities with superstructures
Open-air public transport facilities

Public Transport Facilities which are-

  • any area that consists of the termini of 2 or more modes of public transport and is used for effecting and facilitating interchange between them; or
  • any bus terminus of more than one specified route as defined in section 2 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap.230).

For details, please refer to the websites of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office:
https://www.taco.gov.hk/t/tc_chi/legislation/legislation_sa.html

1Peto, R.et al. Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries: 1950-2000. Oxford University Press, 1994
2Sacks JJ and Nelson DE. Smoking and injuries: an overview. Preventive Medicine 1994;23(4):515-20.
3Mangiaracina G and Palumbo L. Smoking while driving and its consequences on road safety. Annali di Igiene 2007;19(3):253-67.