No Smoking In Cars

[99Flake]

I have just heard on the news and seen in the newspaper that top doctors want a ban on smoking in cars!

This really winds me up, I can understand a ban on smoking in public places as there are other people around who don't want to breath in your smoke. Your car is a private place! It is of no concern of anyone but you.

Now they are claiming it is to stop children from breathing in second hand smoke and I respect that. However it doesn't solve anything, someone who is going to be inclined to smoke in the car with their kid around (which I hate) is also going to smoke in the house with their kids around....

So are they going to ban smoking in houses next????

I hate this country sometimes.....arrrrghhhhh!

[kalniel]

If the evidence shows that it can cause harm just from the lingering chemicals then I think it makes sense (and will push up the value of smokers cars ) But if they're just worried about the effect of smoking with children present then they should just ban that, rather than ruling out smoking in specific places whether or not they are present.

[colincliff]

it would be fine if all the smoke stayed in the car, but i often walk past cars where someone is smoking with the window open to let the smoke out (since they dont want to have to sit in it). Doesnt strike me as much different from just smoking outside.

I think this proposed ban would only be for people parked around public places like schools etc, not in the middle of nowhere?

[kalniel]

I think this proposed ban would only be for people parked around public places like schools etc, not in the middle of nowhere?

No it's concerned with the effect that smoking in a car has on children that travel in that car.

[AledJ]

I have just heard on the news and seen in the newspaper that top doctors want a ban on smoking in cars!

This really winds me up, I can understand a ban on smoking in public places as there are other people around who don't want to breath in your smoke. Your car is a private place! It is of no concern of anyone but you.

Now they are claiming it is to stop children from breathing in second hand smoke and I respect that. However it doesn't solve anything, someone who is going to be inclined to smoke in the car with their kid around (which I hate) is also going to smoke in the house with their kids around....

So are they going to ban smoking in houses next????

I hate this country sometimes.....arrrrghhhhh!

I don't really see why your angered by this. I mean mobile phone use in cars was banned because your concentration was impaired. The same can be said when you lit a cigarette and while you smoke it. You also have one hand off the steering wheel when lighting it and when smoking. So to be honest i'm glad there banning it, for one thing it may cut a small percentage of accidents and has health benefits. Had a few friends who were annoyed with the ban on smoking in pubs etc, and now 2 out of the 4 have stopped and are all the better for it.


edit: just read the bbc article I still would agree with a ban, but support is not as strong as it was. The reason being is that a safety and health reasoning should be the reason for the ban.

[neonplanet40]

If they cared that much they would just ban smoking altogether. Its not like its about the money or anything, oh wait...

[colincliff]

No it's concerned with the effect that smoking in a car has on children that travel in that car.

in that case does seem a tad extreme, although fines etc for people spotted smoking in cars with children i are a good idea in IMO. Not sure who would be responsible for checking these things though - perhaps teams of smoking wardens - who might would help take the pressure of the hatred of traffic wardens..........

[KidChameleon]

top doctors want a ban on smoking in cars!

Top hippies want a ban on animal testing.

Gosh, I hate this government!






This is much like that non-story a while ago that I don't care to remember where "top doctors" were proposing a ban on food, or some other mundanely aggravating thing.

[99Flake]

I don't really see why your angered by this. I mean mobile phone use in cars was banned because your concentration was impaired.

That would be a better arguement yes, however it is still flawed, do you change a cd whilst you are driving? Maybe have a swig of water? Or eat a chocolate bar? All these are just as bad as having a fag.

In fact you can very easily drive with two hands whilst smoking, only occasionally taking your hands off the wheel, far less dangerous that trying to drink from a bottle which also impares your vision, you have to open the cap etc.

As for smoke coming out of a car and people breathing it in? Well that is no different from following someone on the street (walking) who is smoking and that isn't band (whether it should be is another arguement altogether) but in this instance it isn't a valid arguement.

This is much like that non-story a while ago that I don't care to remember where "top doctors" were proposing a ban on food, or some other mundanely aggravating thing.

Oh I know that it is a 'non-story' really. It is just that it is the sort of thing that winds me up. Doctors and governments constantly telling us what we can and can't eat/smoke do etc....

By the time you are an adult you should be able to choose (for better or worse) what you do with your body.

[Kata]

I would also support a ban on smoking while driving for the same reason as they banned mobiles, but for health reasons is taking it a bit too far.

[scaryjim]

I'm constantly amazed by the fact that, every time I end up stuck in a traffic jam on the M-whatever, the most pervasive smell, above all of the vehicle fumes, is the person three cars back smoking a fag. Seriously. I can't remember the last time I was parked up on the M6 between 11 and 8 and didn't get a lungful of tobacco smoke at some point.

On the other hand, a car is just about as private a space as you can get outside your own home, and I'd be disinclined to support a ban on people smoking in their cars. Although I would introduce some very harsh penalties for anyone caught smoking in an enclosed space with a child present...

p.s. there are already perfectly good laws in place to deal with people who have accidents while unnecessarily distracting themselves. If you want to ban everything that might distract people while driving, then we'll end up banning children in cars - they are easily the most distracting thing I can think of...

[AledJ]

That would be a better arguement yes, however it is still flawed, do you change a cd whilst you are driving? Maybe have a swig of water? Or eat a chocolate bar? All these are just as bad as having a fag.

I have my ipod connected in my car and just select a play list before i set off. As for drinking water etc I can see your point, and accept my point is a bit flawed. However, what government idea/ law etc is not flawed.

[Chris P]

In a safety aspect it seems sensible to me, if you're not allowed to use your phone or eat an Apple, why are you currently allowed to smoke. A lit object that you need to hold constantly, you could drop it and set something on fire!

In a health aspect, I can't really see the point, passive smoking from people walking passed your car whilst you are smoking seems a bit weak, as car fumes surely are worse?

It should still be banned for safety and of course that will keep the Dr's happy as well.

[kalniel]

Gosh, I hate this government!

What has the govt got to do with this?

In a health aspect, I can't really see the point, passive smoking from people walking passed your car whilst you are smoking seems a bit weak, as car fumes surely are worse?

It's for the people *in* the car, not outside it.

[TooNice]

Doctors and governments constantly telling us what we can and can't eat/smoke do etc....

By the time you are an adult you should be able to choose (for better or worse) what you do with your body.

Well a doctor's job is not only to fix the problem when they arises. Given that prevention is better than than treatment, it makes sense for them to push for what's best to keep one healthy. Government are the ones who can make it a legal requirements.

To be honest, I believe that the 'life choice' granted to adult is partly on the assumption that they can behave as responsible adults. Yet sometime I wonder why 'responsible adults' would choose to do what they do.

Ideally I think that at the very least, people should not smoke in the vicinity of children in an enclosed place (that means in their car, and even in the same room of their own home) and pregnant women should not smoke nor drink during pregnancy. But it's near impossible to enforce.

[Chris P]

kalniel

Sure, I just read one of the comments about outside. Inside, I would say your own car clearly isn't a public place, so I doubt this new law would pass for this reason. It makes sense so children can't breath in smoke but this is more of a parental decision, just like a law can't be passed stopping you smoking in your house, where children may be present.

The safety aspect still makes more sense.