Drivers of public transport in Chechnya are banned to smoke at driving

The Ministry of Transports and Communications of the Chechen Republic has introduced a ban on smoking during driving for drivers of regular buses and fixed-route taxis. Violators will face dismissal. This innovation, according to the ministry, should reduce the risk of traffic accidents.

"The drivers of public transport and fixed-route taxis are facing restrictions on smoking, when at the steering wheel, in the territory of our republic. The ban should lead to improved road safety and reduced risk of traffic accidents, because the driver's attention should not be taken away by any factors, including cigarette smoking," said the Ministry.

Last year Chechnya registered 372 traffic accidents, which killed 212 persons, including more than 20 children; 572 more were injured and wounded.

Drivers treat the novelty differently. "I work as a bus driver not for the first year; and I never smoke when I drive. It would be disrespectful to my passengers. Many of the drivers I know are smokers, but I don't think that this habit can somehow affect the process of driving on the road. This is not a mobile phone, which can distract driver's attention from monitoring the situation en route. I am afraid this can be used now as a pretext to dismiss some drivers and recruit others. And in order to get employed as a bus or fixed-taxi driver, people pay a thousand dollars and up to their bosses," said Musa, a driver of a city bus in Grozny.

"I don't think that ban (to smoke in driving), will cause problems," his colleague Khasan T., believes, in his turn. "If someone wants to smoke, it can be done while waiting. I generally smoke a lot, but if they ban smoking - I'll have to quit. And what can I do? Otherwise I may lose my job because of this habit."