Joseph Magri (B91J): I haven’t smoked since 1977 and the ban suits me fine! I used to let passengers smoke in my cab but have become sensitive to the smell of smoke and I am delighted with the new law. No smoking stickers on the windows saves people asking if they can light up!

John Hayes (L48): I haven’t smoked in 13 years and I think the new law is a good idea. It will save the NHS millions of pounds but I was unaware that the stickers were compulsory!

Salvatore Macaluso (J63): I used to smoke but stopped 17 years ago when I found my breathing was aggravated by inclement winter weather. Nowadays I try to avoid smoky atmospheres so as not to worsen any breathing problems. The DaC no smoking attribute was wonderful anyway!

Scott Green (N71): I have never smoked, but was subjected to passive smoking when living with

my parents.
Cigars, fags, the lot! Thankfully, I’m not bothered by the smell of cigarette smoke because no matter what I say, my parents will not give up! Personally, I think there should be pubs etc where people can smoke if they wish and those premises should have signage clearly stating that they are smoking establishments.

Jim Rainbird (T25): I’m a non-smoker but think the whole thing is a complete overkill, a bit like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. I think it’s outrageous that a driver going home after work cannot have a ciggy if he wishes to.

Peter Clark (M48): I stopped smoking 19 years ago and tend to avoid smoky atmospheres as it can affect my asthma. I used to let passengers smoke on longer journeys if they asked, but this new law has blown that option out of the window, just like the cigarette smoke used to! I used to spray the back of the cab with an air-freshener after a smoker because I didn’t think it fair on the next passenger.

Terry Brosnan (V77): I quit smoking 5 years ago because I wanted to and think that this new ban is a good idea. I never really minded if passengers lit up during a long journey such as coming from the airport, as my cab was probably the first chance a smoker would have had to have a puff. I have not had the no-smoking stickers on the windows until now and so far the question of ‘can I have a fag?’ has not arisen.

Michael Lappin (E46): I’m a non-smoker and think the ban is fair enough in the confines of a cab, but it is really an infringement of people’s human rights. Smoking is not illegal, so how can you ban something that is not illegal?

Clive Adkins (K41): I’ve been smoking on and off, for 40 years! I gave it up this last May Bank Holiday and haven’t touched a fag since. I think it is a very good idea and should have been done earlier. It has certainly done me a big favour.

And at last… a DaC driver who smokes!
Bob Geach (M77): I’ve been a regular smoker since aged 15, but now it’s a bit like being in a leper colony! I can sympathise with people who get into a smoke-filled cab and I only used to light up if my passenger lit up first. I never had the no smoking window stickers until I had to. I was a chauffeur for 30 years and learned how to keep a car clean regardless. Just because it’s a smoking cab, that doesn’t mean to say it has to smell like an ashtray! It was marvellous to be able to smoke in the cab prior to the ban, but that’s life…!