Is it illegal to smoke in tunnels?

JayMax

JayMax

JayMax

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My daily commute involves the joys of going through the Tyne Tunnel.
Since yesterday on the big flashing programmable sign, they have it displaying 'IT IS ILLEGAL TO SMOKE IN THE TUNNEL' as you enter it.
Can anyone shed any light on this, and why they have only declared it now - I've been going through twice daily for nearly 3 years now and it's never been displayed before.
(I lit up anyway)
 
I suppose it counts as an enclosed space so it's illegal under the recent (ish) smoking ban.
 
Be a bit pointless tbh. Since you;d really need to keep ya window open while smoking, BUT, they ask you to close them or you;d be suffocated by the trapped exhaust fumes lol.
 
My girlfriend and I noticed the very same sign on our way to Wallsend last night, and we both had a chuckle at it. I guess it is an enclosed space but what difference do the cig's make when you consider the amount of vehicles which pass through?
 
Crossy said:
... BUT, they ask you to close them or you;d be suffocated by the trapped exhaust fumes lol.
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Ive drove through the Tyne Tunnel with my windows open many times, and on my motorbike, managed to make it out the other side without suffocating everytime ;)
 
moss said:
Ive drove through the Tyne Tunnel with my windows open many times, and on my motorbike, managed to make it out the other side without suffocating everytime ;)
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I think i worded it wrong lol. What i meant was harmful gases will enter the cab. So its probs worth it not smoking and keeping your windows shut while in the tunnel :D. It did always stump me how bikers went through like.
 
Yeah, me and the wife had a laugh at this the other night. It's a bit daft like considering the amount of vehicle fumes in the place. Like a little cigerette will make a difference.
 
Its probably more to do with a fire risk, you only have to look at what can happen in longer tunnels if a fire takes hold in a canvas covered HGV.
 
Crossy said:
I think i worded it wrong lol. What i meant was harmful gases will enter the cab. So its probs worth it not smoking and keeping your windows shut while in the tunnel :D. It did always stump me how bikers went through like.
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We just ride through. It smells a bit funky in tunnels but there's so many extractor fans working away it's harmless. In Southend until recently we had an underpass about 200ft long with a bus stop in it where people would wait for buses, it's not going to do you any damage unless you actually sat down there for about four months.
 
I understand the smoking bans says, if the public area is enclosed by three walls and a roof, then smoking is not allowed. A tunnel has simply a curving roof, at best two walls and a roof, so I would say technically it is not against the law. I could easily be wrong of course.
 
howiepoohs said:
I understand the smoking bans says, if the public area is enclosed by three walls and a roof, then smoking is not allowed. A tunnel has simply a curving roof, at best two walls and a roof, so I would say technically it is not against the law. I could easily be wrong of course.
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50% of the walls/roof must be open air, so the tunnels don't comply hence smoking is illegal, kin crazy.:(
 
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