Change in law urged to ban smokers from buses

Under current legislation, passengers who flout regulations by smoking on board can be ordered to get off but cannot be barred from travelling again.

The Department for Transport is consulting over proposed changes to bus passenger regulations, including changes to the rules on smoking and introducing a ban on carrying and drinking alcohol.

The City of Hull and Humber Environment Forum (CHEF) and bus operator East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) have both said a ban would act as a deterrent to on-board smokers.

Adam Fowler, community environment officer at CHEF, said: "Smoking is a much bigger issue than alcohol, particularly in Hull where about 70 per cent of the buses are double deckers, and it's very difficult for drivers to enforce if people smoke on the upper deck.

"It's an issue that comes up time and again, and in my experience it's not just young people you see but a lot of elderly people smoking too.

"We need better enforcement and support as a partnership between passengers, the operators and local authorities. It's an issue that has been smouldering away."

Dave Jones, social behaviour co-ordinator at EYMS, said: "We've got a problem in that people can't be banned from bus journeys on a permanent basis and that certainly needs to change."

Mr Jones said the company had recorded six incidents of people being caught smoking on buses between July 2009 and March this year.

He said the number of incidents had fallen over the last three years after targeted operations involving plain-clothes inspectors travelling on routes where there was known to be a problem.

The DfT's proposals will be discussed at the next meeting of Hull Council's Environment Overview and Scrutiny Commission on Wednesday.