Taxi group supports smoke-free cabs

The endorsement came after the Police Radio Station and the John Tung Foundation, one of the major anti-smoking advocacy organizations in Taiwan, launched a campaign promoting smoke-free taxis in light of the high percentage of cab drivers who smoke.

According to a DOH survey conducted in 2002, the smoking rate among the country's taxi drivers was about 61 percent.

To help foster a smoke-free environment,Taiwan Taxi has formulated a reward system and has organized two quitting smoking sessions in conjunction with Tai-An Hospital to encourage and help smoking drivers kick the habit, said Lin Tsun-tien, chairman of the taxi service group, which represents 6,000 cabbies.

The success rate of smoking abstinence among those who attend the sessions has been maintained at 80 percent after a one-year follow up, Lin said, adding that the overall smoking rate among the group's drivers has dropped below 50 percent.

Liao Chia-ching, a driver affiliated with the taxi service group who has been a smoker for 30 years, said after attending the smoking quitting cession that he found that with determination and a good method, anyone can quit smoking.

Cabbies can now get smoke-free stickers at the Police Radio Station's eight branches around the country, according to station officials.

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