OBJECTIVES: The aim of this analysis was to measure the smokers’ behaviors with regards to smoking cessation and determine the attempts to stop and predictive factors of quitting smoking. METHODS: A representative French national sample of 6032 subjects aged 15 years or more received a self-administered questionnaire in November 2006. Subjects identified as smokers were recontacted in June 2007 in order to complete a telephone administered questionnaire. Current smokers were investigated during the two phases on smoking habits, consumption, quit attempts, predictive factors of quit attempts. A descriptive analysis was performed for each phase in order to determine the smokers’ behaviors between the two phases towards tobacco cessation. RESULTS: The response rate of the first phase was 66% (21% of them were current smokers, 26% ex-smokers and 53% never smoked). Forty percent of smokers declared intention to stop smoking. Among them 55% expected to quit smoking within the 2 to 6 next months (22% of total smokers). The main reason reported for quitting smoking was the high price of cigarettes (65%), followed by the wish to improve physical condition (53%). France’s smoking ban, and information campaigns by the media represented less than 10%. During the second phase, 521 smokers were interviewed. Twenty four percent had attempted to stop (11% stopped smoking and 13% attempted and failed to stop smoking between the two phases). Twenty three percent of quit attempts (successful or failed) were initiated by a physician. The main reason mentioned by individuals who stopped or attempted to stop was health improvement (80%). The expected bans of January 2008 were mentioned by 17% of individuals who stopped smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Health improvement seems to be the main motivation for smokers to quit. Health care professionals should have a pivotal role in helping smokers to reach this objective.