Smoking is already banned in cinemas, theatres, many restaurants and places of work.

It is prohibited on aircraft, trains and buses. Pilots and drivers are included in the ban.

So it is a natural progression that smoking should outlawed finally for taxi drivers.

And in the drive for greater safety on the roads, if private cars are required by law to provide rear seat belts, why shouldn't taxis?

These are among new local regulations to be considered this week by City of York councillors.

But they will be preaching to the converted - York's taxi and hire car drivers have imposed their own smoking ban - on drivers and passengers - in their cabs and they all agree that rear seat belts are a necessity, obligatory or not.

Taxi drivers, generally, are a credit to this tourist city.

They do not need regulations on smoking and passenger safety.

They are already well ahead of the game.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.