Fleet managers are facing a backlash from drivers who are refusing to display no-smoking stickers in their company vehicles.

Several fleet managers have had problems with stubborn drivers when trying to introduce the new legislation.

Debbie Floyde, fleet manager at Emap, publisher of Fleet News, said: “It is a task-and-a-half actually getting drivers to display the stickers.

“All our company car drivers were sent stickers by our leasing company and the amount that now say they are not in receipt of them is incredible.

“Threats and educating them to the fact that they will have to pay fines if caught are the only ways of getting the message over.”

Driver education with the threat of fines can work but warning drivers about disciplinary hearings could also have the desired result.

Ann Dukanovic, fleet manager at Kaba Door Systems, said: “We have had problems with some of our drivers who felt that they didn’t need to display the no-smoking stickers.

“We printed the guidelines outlining that their van is a place of work and the sticker must be displayed.

The regional managers then called in the drivers to say they would be disciplined if stickers are not displayed.”

Councils are now starting to get tough on enforcing the smoking ban (Fleet News, July 19). An enforcement officer recently issued a £50 fine to a driver for smoking in his boss’s vehicle.

Have you had problems with your drivers? Email fleetnews@emap.com.

Driver backlash

”I am not putting a sticker in my car, I don’t smoke and nor will I allow anyone to, so why should I have to display one?”

”I am not putting one in my car until they ban smoking in cars while carrying children.”

”How is this going to be policed?”

”I am the only person who uses the van. Why should I have to have a sticker?”

Source: Fleet managers