Almost a quarter of motorists unaware ban puts a stop to smoking in work vehicles - Green Flag revea

Widespread confusion over impact of new smoking laws on workplaces and work vehicles.

[ClickPress, Wed Aug 15 2007] According to research from car breakdown insurance specialist Green Flag reveals that 23% of Brits did not realise motorists who share a work vehicle would no longer be able to light up while on the road when the new law came into effect on 1 July 2007.

Of motorists who share a vehicle with fellow workers or other members of the public, 16% were not aware that they would be banned from smoking in their car or van even if they're the only one in the vehicle at the time.

Green Flag issued no-smoking stickers to be placed in each recovery vehicle and wrote to its network of thousands of breakdown recovery drivers with details of how the new legislation was to affect them. The no-smoking signs are now prominently displayed in all drivers' breakdown recovery vehicles to ensure both members and recovery vehicle drivers are aware of the new regulations.

Despite 99% of Brits having been aware of the impending clamp-down, confusion was rife about where the new rules apply. Especially when it came to workplaces and work vehicles as 16% of Brits did not realise the smoking ban would affect smoking in their workplace. Whilst 95% of Brits knew the ban meant an end to smoking in bars and pubs, 14% were not aware smoking would no longer be allowed in restaurants.

The ban may have had an impact among Britain's large amount of employed drivers, as 33% of motorists who share a work vehicle with other people say they would either quit smoking completely or smoke fewer cigarettes once the ban came into force.

12% of smokers overall said they intended to quit smoking altogether. 57% of those who planned to cut down felt the ban was likely to encourage them to stop smoking in the near future.

For further information about our car breakdown cover please visit Green Flag.

Customers have access to a national network of thousands of independent recovery agents in the UK and on mainland Europe.

Research commissioned by YouGov for RBS Insurance amongst 2,070 respondents between 11th to 13th June 2007. The survey was carried online and has been weighted to be representative of the GB population. There are 33 million drivers in the UK (Department for Transport 2006 figures)

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