For bus driver Jaelani, a day without cigarettes is torture.
Having operated an air-conditioned public bus plying a route between Kampung Rambutan, North Jakarta, and Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, since the mid 1990s, the man said it was difficult for him to stay awake behind the steering wheel without smoking several cigarettes first.
"A traffic jam and the cool temperature *inside the bus* easily makes me sleepy," Jaelani, 42, told The Jakarta Post.
"When I stopped at a bus terminal, the first thing that crossed my mind was to smoke."
Earning Rp 50,000 (US$5.25) on average per day, the father of one said he spent at least Rp 10,000 daily on cigarettes.
"But I consider myself lucky," he said.
"If I were a non-AC bus driver, I could spend more than double on cigarettes."
Sarip Awaluddin, a non-AC bus driver, agreed.
Making ends meet with the job for 25 years, the 53-year-old, who runs a bus plying a route between Kampung Rambutan and Senen, Central Jakarta, recalled cigarettes had helped him survive harsh Jakarta traffic.
"I must put a cigarette in my mouth when driving otherwise I feel nervous and sweat," he said.
He also said that he could smoke up to four packs of cigarettes in a day.
Two years ago his doctor diagnosed the grandfather of two with severe hypertension.
The order from the doctor was: quit smoking and lead a healthy life, or die.
"But, it's not easy to quit *smoking*," Sarip said.
"I need months to become use to working without cigarettes."
Jaelani and Sarip were among dozens of drivers who attended an anti-tobacco seminar held by the Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) at Kampung Rambutan bus terminal on Monday.
Tulus Abadi, YLKI's director in charge of the tobacco control program, said a the seminar was not only aimed at campaigning against the dangerous effects of tobacco but to urge bus drivers to participate in ensuring their vehicles become a smoke-free zone and don't smoke while they work," he said.
According to the 2005 bylaw on air pollution control, people are not allowed to smoke in five facilities, namely public transportation, health-care buildings, schools, children areas and places of worship.
At offices and public spaces, including malls, restaurants, terminals airports and stations, smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.
Under the bylaw, smoking in public places is punishable with a six-month prison sentence or fines of up to Rp 50 million.
Although the bylaw was approved a few years ago, its implementation has been deemed ineffective.
YLKI found there were violations of the smoking ban in 89 percent of 549 public buses and minivans it surveyed in July.
The survey also found that 43 percent of violators were drivers, 40 percent were passengers and the remaining 17 percent were driver assistants.
Aside from running similar seminars at several other bus terminals until next month, Tulus said YLKI had prepared 5,000 stickers for bus stations and public buses as part of the foundation's anti-tobacco campaign.
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