Because of the health-risk dangers, smoking in public vehicles is a banned activity, and warning signs on the same should also be prominently displayed inside the vehicle. Cars, vans etc. are enclosed vehicles and smoking inside can prove harmful not only to the driver, but also other passengers present. Companies or individuals running vehicles for public use are required to take steps to ensure the ban is complied with.

Secondhand tobacco smoke contaminates and makes the air toxic, especially in enclosed spaces. This can happen if one person in the vehicle resorts to smoking; the others travelling along can be exposed to this second-hand smoke.

Studies reveal that a single cigarette smoked in a car with closed windows produces second-hand smoke which is 7 to 11 times higher than a normal cigarette.

It may be argued that by opening a window or using the air-conditioner second-hand smoke becomes less dangerous to other passengers in the car. This is not so. Just breathing in tobacco smoke (or passive smoking) can cause several health disorders such as dizziness, nausea, throat irritation, headache, eye irritation and cough. Asthma patients may also suffer lung function decline.

Vehicles required to be smoke-free should display warning signs regarding no smoking in both the compartments of the vehicle and the sign should be about 70 mm in diameter and show the international no-smoking symbol. Ash trays should also not be provided in the vehicle. As smoking in public vehicles is against the law, owners of the vehicle will be legally responsible if the law is broken.

There are stray instances when smoking in a public vehicle may be allowed, such as:

• If the car is privately-owned and used for business only occasionally.
• If the vehicle has a roof that can be remove. When the roof is removed, smoking may be allowed.
• If a company vehicle is driven by only one regular employee and not used by any of the other company staff, it is exempt from being smoke free.

No smoking signs are now being displayed with different wordings to catch the public eye. Some that stand out are:

• Thank you for not smoking
• Young lungs inside this vehicle
• No smoking in this vehicle
• No smoking by City Ordinance
• Smoke-free cars – healthy kids
• No smoking in this vehicle – a cleaning fee of up to $... may apply.

Any company plying public vehicles besides displaying no smoking signs, has to take reasonable steps to discourage their staff from smoking in the vehicle. They could train the staff to be more responsible and obey the law and if caught otherwise, inflict a heavy fine. The management could introduce a smoke free policy in the company premises.

Cars privately owned by companies or individuals are exempt from the no smoking ban, unless they are used as private taxis. However it is important that all vehicles covered by the no smoking ban display warning signs, and those who flaunt and disobey the rule should be heavily fined.