Smoking while driving isn’t just a health risk — it’s a dangerous distraction. Studies show higher smoking rates correlate with increased vehicle deaths, with the act of lighting, holding, and disposing of a cigarette taking a driver’s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road for an average of 12 seconds.

For Class 8 vehicles, which require longer stopping distances and more space to maneuver, even a momentary distraction can make the difference between a near miss and a serious collision. The risk is even greater for fleets hauling fuel, chemicals, or other hazardous materials, where a dropped cigarette can spark a fire and lead to a catastrophic accident.

While many fleets enforce no-smoking policies, ensuring compliance in real-time has been nearly impossible — until now.

Take action with real-time smoking alerts.

With Motive’s new AI-powered Smoking Detection, you can now proactively reduce distractions, enforce no-smoking policies, and prevent fire hazards.

Available on all Motive Dual-Facing AI Dashcams, AI detects when drivers smoke inside the vehicle and alerts managers in real time. Managers get immediate notifications with video evidence, making it easy to coach drivers, enforce policies, and reinforce safe habits. Drivers will get in-cab alerts in the near future, prompting them audibly in the vehicle to refrain from smoking in the vehicle.

Smoking is flagged if a cigarette is detected in the hand or mouth for 5 seconds or more while traveling above 5 mph. Future updates will allow fleets to customize speed and duration thresholds.

Why enforcing a no-smoking policy matters.

Beyond reducing smoking-related distractions, enforcing no-smoking policies helps you improve fleet safety, compliance, and operational costs:

  • Prevent collisions – Smoking is a visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. Preventing in-cab smoking helps reduce collisions, liability, and insurance costs.
  • Stay compliant with federal regulations – FMCSA strictly prohibits smoking near hazmat vehicles under 49 CFR Part 397. Violations can lead to fines, driver disqualification, and legal risks.
  • Prevent fires & hazmat incidents – Smoking near fuel, chemicals, or flammable cargo raises the risk of fires and explosions. 11% of hazmat transportation incidents result from human error, including smoking violations.
  • Protect driver health – Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of heart disease, lung conditions, and other serious health issues. Enforcing no-smoking policies helps protect your drivers’ health and productivity.
  • Reduce maintenance costs – Smoking damages interiors, leaves lingering odors, and accelerates wear and tear. Enforcing no-smoking policies extends vehicle lifespan, improves resale value, and reduces unexpected upkeep costs.

Customer impact.

Fleets using Motive’s AI-powered Smoking Detection are already seeing fewer distractions, better policy enforcement, and safer drivers. One safety manager at a leading pavement restoration company shared:

“Smoking is a serious risk, but before, we had no way to catch it in real time. Since using Motive’s AI-powered Smoking Detection, we’ve been able to coach drivers right away and make sure they’re following safety policies. This helps reduce distracted driving and extend the life of our vehicles.”

A smarter approach to safety

From detecting drowsy driving to preventing unsafe parking, Motive gives you the tools to reduce risk, protect drivers, and build a stronger safety culture. Customers have reduced accidents by 80% within a year of full-scale AI Dashcam adoption.

Ready to see it in action? Take a tour of the Motive AI Dashcam and Driver Safety solution today.