I wouldnt put the kettle on at 56 mph
You’ll be alright at 50mph 
Keep it civil folks. 
Discuss the issue. Not the individuals.
dennisw1:
Just smoking is one thing though, people trying to get ■■■■ out of the pack or light ■■■■ whilst driving or even rolling them whilst driving is just plain stupid.Smoking while driving is ‘clearly’ a distraction and distractions ‘do’ cause accidents. simple as.
Ask me what I do when I get a cigarette out of a pack and light it whilst driving, and the answer is, “I don’t know.'” It is such an automatic sequence that I don’t even have to apply any degree of thought to it. I suppose, if pressed, I would explain that I have a recorded a ‘snapshot’ of the traffic situation, assessed as to whether I was in a ‘zone of safety’ or a ‘zone of danger’ and acted accordingly. After all, things on the road don’t happen suddenly. Incidents ‘occur’ suddenly through lack of anticipation or observation.
For instance, I currently have a cold and a dry throat that on occasions, causes me to have a coughing fit. The remedy. At my left hand is a cold drink. Which is safer? To pull over on the hard shoulder and stop, or to remain in my lane and take a slurp? Tilting the bottle, not my head, which means that I am maintaining monocular vision of the road ahead. And if we go back to the 70’s/80’s, monocular vision was not a bar to holding an HGV Licence.
Krankee:
Ask me what I do when I get a cigarette out of a pack and light it whilst driving, and the answer is, “I don’t know.'” It is such an automatic sequence that I don’t even have to apply any degree of thought to it. I suppose, if pressed, I would explain that I have a recorded a ‘snapshot’ of the traffic situation, assessed as to whether I was in a ‘zone of safety’ or a ‘zone of danger’ and acted accordingly. After all, things on the road don’t happen suddenly. Incidents ‘occur’ suddenly through lack of anticipation or observation.
Exactly.
When I light a smoke I dont take my eyes off the road. ■■■ goes in the mouth, lighter comes upto the ■■■ whilst still looking at the road in front. I keep both ■■■■ & lighter in a place where I can grab them without looking. Flicking the ash? Well, have the window open and move your arm slightly, simple.
What next? Ban sneezing? You have to close your eyes to do that. 
Roadhog:
Is it me?
It would be terrible to do so many checks around the vehicle and then the steering wheel falls off in your hands. So don’t forget to check that too.
You’ve got OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. No known cure.
Dear oh dear oh dear, me thinks this is about an anti smoker having a whinge at smokers and naf all about safety
In the 22 years of driving trucks i have never even come close to having a crash or ANY incident of ANY kind because of smoking whilst driving
Get a grip mate or a job in government 
Hey, i’m off my high horse.
But it’s still illegal to smoke whilst driving.
You should check your load & vehicle, before and periodically during your journey.
During this, it is possible to smoke a cig.
My point is, there are oportunities for someone to smoke at regular intervals without having to break the law and do it whilst driving.
Now stop getting angry, because that’s unconstructive. just point out why the above is not possible.
I totally agree that both vehicle and load checks are important
A lot of drivers seem to just get in and drive off without doing vehicle or load checks or indeed doing checks like tyres etc. whilst on their journey’s, I for one had it instilled in me when i was a young lad in the Royal Corps of Transport and so still do these ‘drivers responsillities’ checks even today.
BUT, smoking whilst driving? nah mate
Roadhog is right with his smoking thing to the degree that you may as well get used to not smoking in the cab , the extra checks and stuff strike me as obsessive .
But the smoking thing , you may as well start adapting now to make it less of a chore when the ban comes in next year …One item less to whinge about in the canteen before departing for theday/ night to grumble to yourself …
Is it me, or is Richie not quite sure on which side of this arguement he is on? 
On the one hand:
richiessex:
In the 22 years of driving trucks i have never even come close to having a crash or ANY incident of ANY kind because of smoking whilst drivingGet a grip mate or a job in government
But on the other:
richiessex:
BUT, smoking whilst driving? nah mate
As to the point of the thread I am appalled by the overbearing effects of this sledgehammer law as applied to single occupancy cabs, but Roadhog has a point and does not deserve the wild attacks he has endured for stating the obvious way inveterate smokers can adapt before it is enforced outside Scotland. Even in Scotland it shouldn’t be too difficult to cope although I do agree it is in some cases a gross imposition on personal liberty.
Spardo:
but Roadhog has a point and does not deserve the wild attacks he has endured for stating the obvious
Agreed!
Spardo:
it is in some cases a gross imposition on personal liberty.
… unless i’m expected to drive the same cab after he’s finished with it!!
Should non-smokers be made to work in an environment that is unpleasant to them? For example, if I disliked the smell of sewage, I wouldn’t work for one of the water authorities on the ‘■■■-tankers’ (been there, done that … and left!!); if I didn’t like the smell of diesel I wouldn’t work in transport; if I had hayfever, I wouldn’t be a florist, etc etc (get the picture now?).
So, why should a driver have to work in a cab that harbours a smell that is unpleasant to him, bearing in mind that it is not an integral part of the job??
I’m afraid smokers tend to forget that it is not their right to smoke but a lifestyle choice that they have to fit in with others. I guess it’s not so disimilar (but on a smaller scale) when heroin addicts think it’s fine to go housebreaking to feed their addiction. I’m alright, Jack!!
roadhog
do you work for vosa or the police
some people dont half come out with some (zb)
if it needs stars it’s not allowed mm
May I suggest some of you guys read the article in URTU Wheels magazine regarding smoking especially if you travel over the border into Scotland. It is serious business now and cavalier regard to the new law in Scotland could cost you a lot of money if you disregard the new law in Scotland . The law is for all drivers, and that includes owner operators. Its only a matter of time before England takes on the same laws as we are led to believe and because we Brits do not protest enough the new law will be passed without any real involvement from Joe Public. After all George Orwell was right when he said Big Brother would be watching us!!!
richiessex:
BUT, smoking whilst driving? nah mate
Meaning it’s not dangerous to smoke whilst driving.
Roadhog:
Hey, i’m off my high horse.But it’s still illegal to smoke whilst driving.
You should check your load & vehicle, before and periodically during your journey.
During this, it is possible to smoke a cig.
My point is, there are oportunities for someone to smoke at regular intervals without having to break the law and do it whilst driving.
Now stop getting angry, because that’s unconstructive. just point out why the above is not possible.
Do you ever look at a map/street atlas whilst you are driving?
Roadhog:
the fact that a smoker can sit on a plane for hours without smoking proves they CAN wait to have a ■■■.
i cant relate to a plane since i dont like them but i am capable of not smoking in places where i am not allowed as long as i have the ability to smoke ie ■■■■ and lighter. HOWEVER! sitting reading a book is a lot less stressful than driving and therefore, the effect of having a ■■■ at the wheel actually improves road safety by calming the nerves of the driver. of course, this is not medically true but the psychological effect is where it kicks in with things like this. the brain believes that a ■■■ reduces stress and so you will feel less stressed without having any physical change
scanny77:
[ the effect of having a ■■■ at the wheel actually improves road safety by calming the nerves of the driver.
I think the fact that there are HGV drivers out there who need the assistance of drugs to stay calm is only marginally less worrying than getting cancer through secondary smoking
it would take a better man than me to not get agitated out there on the road David. i dont mind admitting that. fair play to anyone who does manage it
if as you suggest it is illegal to smoke whilst driving under due care and attewntion will it now be usual for all car drivers to be prosecuted for driving and smoking. also today I saw a truck with a sticker on the outside of the windscreen stating that the vehcle was a work place end giving the phone number of the operator of the truck.The driver told me that this was now law in Scotland and that if this sticker was not displayed the operator was open to a fine of £250 irrespective of whether the driver was a smoker.Is this right?and if it is will all company cars also have to diplay the same or is it the normal truckerism that we keep seeing in this country
and if it is will all company cars also have to diplay the same
Apparently they do not constitute a workplace so they do not come under the same rules… … …
wiggy:
The driver told me that this was now law in Scotland and that if this sticker was not displayed the operator was open to a fine of £250 irrespective of whether the driver was a smoker.Is this right?
have a read HERE