Panel Bans Smoking on Interstate Buses; Charter Firms Given Option

The Interstate Commerce Commission voted unanimously today to ban smoking on all regularly scheduled interstate buses in the United States.

Charter bus companies were given the option of allowing passengers to smoke if the passengers on a charter bus agree that it should be allowed.

The ban will take effect soon after the issuance of the commission’s decision in writing, expected in the next few weeks.

Lawyers for the ICC said the change was supported by a wide variety of groups but was opposed by the tobacco industry.

The ICC lawyers said that smoking has been proved to be injurious to health and that tobacco smoke cannot be adequately ventilated from buses to assure the health and comfort of nonsmokers.

The commission began its consideration of a smoking ban last March at the request of the American Bus Assn. and United Bus Owners of America, the national trade associations for the intercity bus business.

In April, Action on Smoking and Health, an anti-smoking association, filed a similar request but asked that it be imposed on all buses, including charters.

Officials for the bus industry contended that operators of charter buses should be permitted to regulate smoking based on their passengers’ desires.

The commission lawyers said officials of the nation’s charter bus industry had expressed fear of losing business if they were compelled to enforce a uniform smoking ban.

The ICC no-smoking rule affects passengers served by about 300 bus companies that provide service on interstate routes.

As the regulatory process unfolded this year, the anti-smoking group contended that bus passengers are entitled to the same protection from tobacco smoke in the air as those who travel by plane and train.