Bid to ban smoking in cars

Feel_Good_inc. · 07-10-2008, 02:17 PM

The following content has been hidden - Reason : My personal note, not part of the article

Bid to ban smoking in cars

Anti-smoking lobbyists have said the Government should consider banning smoking in cars.

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) claims the pollution caused by one cigarette in a car is as bad as a pub filled with smoke.
In its report, Beyond Smoking Kills, it states that stopping smoking in cars is "vital in cutting the exposure of children and young people to the toxins in second-hand tobacco smoke".

Ash's director Deborah Arnott said: "It's a serious health issue. Research from Canada shows if you smoke once in a car you get the same pollution as you used to get at the end of an evening in a pub.

"The level of exposure you get in an enclosed vehicle is extremely high and it's not at all good for your health."

She added that Ash was not calling for an immediate ban, but wanted an investigation into whether legislation should be introduced.

"We want a proper debate, not a knee-jerk reaction," she said.
"What we need to do is engage people as to why smoking in cars is dangerous. It's not just dangerous for children, it's dangerous for adults as well.

"We do not call for a legislative ban on smoking in cars. Give smokers access to alternatives. What we'd like to see is if smokers are in the car and desperate, they chew some gum. We need education."

The Beyond Smoking Kills report found that the annual cost to the NHS of smoking had risen from £1.7 billion in 1998 to £2.7 billion this year.

Among its recommendations are the introduction of plain packaging and a ban on shop displays of all tobacco products in a bid to encourage 4.5 million smokers to quit by 2015.

Simon Clark, director of pro-tobacco group Forest, said smokers were facing a "war" and wanted an end to Government interference.

Mr Clark said: "We're strongly against any further legislation on smoking in cars.

"We think parents should err on the side of caution when it comes to smoking around children, but to ban it would be a gross overreaction.
"There's simply no evidence that smoking in cars is a serious distraction and causes accidents. I think this is part of the war on tobacco and I think it would be difficult to enforce.

"A car is a private space and if people choose to smoke in their car, that is a matter for them."

Source: ITN news.

Lou Lou · 07-10-2008, 02:29 PM

I heard about this on the radio this morning although they said it was only to ban smoking in cars with children in them. I wasn't really listening properly.

I see their point, I totally get that the Goverment are just making moves to make the Nation healthier etc etc etc but I just think what you do in your own personal space is own personal business. If you want to smoke in your car...do it!
It is irresponsible to smoke in the car with children though, or other non smokers for that matter. Thats an issue of consideration though and at the end of the day is still down to the individual.

How they are going to be monitoring this though is beyond me. If it happens at all!

07-10-2008, 02:40 PM

I can see the whole children in cars thing, but you are being complete irresponsable if you're smoking in the same car as your children anyway, and are no doubt driving around a car park at 3am in a cappa shell suit.

However, I think it's taking it a bit too far with the whole smoking ban thing. Pubs, I can sort of see (even if it does ruin the atmosphere of certain places), but if you're on your own driving along, it's fair enough.

It's just rapidly heading towards 1984...maybe there IS no war in Iraq?!?!?

Dicky!

BeautyFiend · 07-10-2008, 02:41 PM

Bullshít.
Cars are privately owned.
This could never be enforced.
Smoking whilst driving, however...

Feel_Good_inc. · 07-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dicky T

maybe there IS no war in Iraq?!?!?

Yeah, just don't mention that around "injured veterans" those guys are really committed to the lie.

lonely_wreckage · 07-10-2008, 03:07 PM

I get the no smoking if kids are in the car thing but yeh it is getting rather controlling. Mind you the problem i have more is people fiddling with their ciggies and lighters not paying attention to the road. (ie the guy that nearly crashed us at over 60 on a motorway grrr) but then distractions apply to anything u do in the car ie radio, phones which is supposedly illegal-but yes the new scottish gov ad gets u telt-it only takes ONE distraction

But yes agree with the ban in public places and i do see the reasoning if there are kids in the car cause then you are endangering someone elses health, but if someone who smokes is in the car on their own, or with an adult who has agreed then i dont realli see what the issue is. I mean they havent been able to stop people using phones in cars so i do see how they could attempt this

zoes bitch · 07-10-2008, 03:07 PM

Ok 1. It is my car, if I want to smoke in it I will damn well smoke in it.
2. If people smoke in the car when there are children in it they are morons anyway.
3. Do something else like chew gum? Are you ****ing kidding me? If it were that easy I wouldn't still be smoking.

Morons.

griddlebone · 07-10-2008, 03:07 PM

This is beyond stupid. Next theyll be banning it in houses with children.I already cant smoke in the pub or even at the bus stop (which is outside, but has three 'walls') leave us alooooooone.

griddlebone · 07-10-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by complete_bitch

Ok 1. It is my car, if I want to smoke in it I will damn well smoke in it.
2. If people smoke in the car when there are children in it they are morons anyway.
3. Do something else like chew gum? Are you ****ing kidding me? If it were that easy I wouldn't still be smoking.

Morons.

well said :P

lonely_wreckage · 07-10-2008, 03:10 PM

The bus stop one is ridiculous and whats worse is they have a phone number so you can phone up and tell on the big bad smokers? pah the gov need to get a grip and stop trying to divert us from the real issues in the country right now

griddlebone · 07-10-2008, 03:17 PM

Lulz,Ive had numerous people bitching at me about smoking at bus stops. Its like now theres a big sticker on the side people think they have a license to shout at me, if theyre that bothered they can ring the friggin number.

zoes bitch · 07-10-2008, 03:21 PM

I don't smoke at bus stops with 3 walls. I don't like to smoke around people who don't. I would rather move away from them.

griddlebone · 07-10-2008, 03:26 PM

It usually happens at the small village bus stop where i light up and half way through my cigarette someone turns up and starts lecturing me. If its a bus stop with lots of people, i stand away.

lonely_wreckage · 07-10-2008, 03:27 PM

Idk i dont smoke so doesnt realli affect me much but it just seems that with proposals like the above ban that smokers are being made out to be evil. I understand the ban in pubs and it suits me cos my lungs cant handle cold weather never mind smoke- but to say u cant smoke in ur own car is demonising smoking. Well in my opinion. Anyway it might be dummy tested on us first like the pub ban

Heidi Tiger · 07-10-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griddlebone

This is beyond stupid. Next theyll be banning it in houses with children.I already cant smoke in the pub or even at the bus stop (which is outside, but has three 'walls') leave us alooooooone.

Personally if I had kids and smoked I wouldn't smoke in the house with them in it. Not only for passive smoking reasons but also so kids aren't encouraged to start smoking from imitating their parents. However, I don't think it's right to make it the law. If you make a law about that, you need to make a law outlawing kids from being fed crappy junk food and it'd never stop. There are things parents should be expected to do, but which aren't enforced by law.

With regards to the driving. Smoking whilst behind the wheel should be outlawed, you aren't allowed to talk on a mobile phone and their was a court case where a woman was prosecuted for dangerous driving for eating a bag of crisps. How is smoking a cigarette any safer than that? But should smoking in cars be banned, well no, people can smoke in their houses so why not their cars. And where would something such as a campervan come in this legislation which can be both a vehicle and a home at the same time?

sherlock holmes · 07-10-2008, 03:35 PM

I smoke at bus stops. Just don't stand under it, stand next to it and you're fine.

I think it's really stupid to ban smoking in cars. Then they'll take it further and try to ban people smoking in their own homes.

lonely_wreckage · 07-10-2008, 03:36 PM

Interesting point. My dad smokes but he always goes outside now. He smoke around me when i was a kid though so i suppose some damage might be done but i dont blame him it was never publicised the same when back then but now i dont think ther is an excuse to smoke around children.

But yeh to ban in cars realli does hav a lot of grey areas - should just drivers be banned or as you said about the campervan thing. It opens up a lot of other questions but they are making my brain ache and get confused...

griddlebone · 07-10-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi Tiger

Personally if I had kids and smoked I wouldn't smoke in the house with them in it. Not only for passive smoking reasons but also so kids aren't encouraged to start smoking from imitating their parents. However, I don't think it's right to make it the law. If you make a law about that, you need to make a law outlawing kids from being fed crappy junk food and it'd never stop. There are things parents should be expected to do, but which aren't enforced by law.

With regards to the driving. Smoking whilst behind the wheel should be outlawed, you aren't allowed to talk on a mobile phone and their was a court case where a woman was prosecuted for dangerous driving for eating a bag of crisps. How is smoking a cigarette any safer than that? But should smoking in cars be banned, well no, people can smoke in their houses so why not their cars. And where would something such as a campervan come in this legislation which can be both a vehicle and a home at the same time?

I personally wouldnt smoke in my house if I had children too, but thats down to personal choice. I just dont agree that they have any right to ban people from smoking in their own homes/cars. In public buildings, fair enough.

Popple · 07-10-2008, 03:43 PM

I think smoking should be band while driving not because of all this passive smoking business but because its another thing to be distracted by and therefore making you more likely to crash other than that I am not really bothered.

zoes bitch · 07-10-2008, 03:50 PM

I am sorry, the only time I am distracted when smoking in my car is lighting up and even then it isn't much.

Listening to the radio is just as distracting. And yes, they were thinking of banning that too!

It's just going to far. I would rather someone smoke in their car than get frustrated because they can't and then for their attention to be on that rather than the road.