Ban smoking in cars,says British Medical Association.

[dave1966]

All smoking in cars should be banned across the UK to protect people from second-hand smoke, doctors say.

The British Medical Association called for the extension of the current ban on smoking in public places after reviewing evidence of the dangers.

It highlighted research showing the levels of toxins in a car can be up to 23 times higher than in a smoky bar.

But a report by a cross-party group of MPs and peers said non-legislative options should be considered as well.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health even said calling for an immediate ban could be "counterproductive" as consensus needed to be built across society before taking such as step.

The group said there should be a consultation on tackling smoking in cars which could look at whether it would be better to have an outright ban, or if more could be achieved by raising awareness about the dangers through education campaigns.

It pointed out that policing a ban on smoking in cars could be difficult.

Continue reading the main story
Smoking in cars
Just over a fifth of adults in England smoke; the figure is slightly higher in other parts of the UK
It is estimated that between a third and half of smokers will light up while in a car
If they do so the concentration of toxins is much higher in a car than a smoky bar; some research has put it at 23-fold, although others have suggested lower figures
If windows are open, the concentration levels can be lower
Smoking is already banned in vehicles that are used for work purposes, such as taxis
As yet no part of the UK has banned smoking in private cars
No part of the UK has yet implemented a ban, although ministers in Northern Ireland have said they will launch a consultation on the issue.

Meanwhile, in Wales a public awareness campaign has begun highlighting the dangers of smoking in cars. Officials have said if that does not succeed over the next three years, a ban will be introduced.

Neither England or Scotland are currently considering introducing legislation at the moment.

But the BMA believes tougher action is needed.

The doctors' union said an outright ban - even if there were no passengers - would be the best way of protecting children as well as non-smoking adults.

It said the young were particularly vulnerable from second-hand smoke as they absorbed more pollutants and their immune systems were less developed.

Research has show that second-hand smoke can increase the risk of a range of conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome and asthma, as well as impairing lung function.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science at the BMA, admitted introducing a ban would be a "bold and courageous" move.

She added: "The evidence for extending smoke-free legislation is compelling."

International action

While no part of the UK has yet taken such a step, countries elsewhere in the world have.

Some states in Canada, the US and Australia, as well as the whole of South Africa, have introduced legislation, but in each case it has been focused on stopping smoking where children are present.

Instead, the BMA said a complete ban would be better as it would be easier to police. It would also have the added benefit of potentially improving safety as smoking could be a distraction for the driver, the report said.

The recommendation, which was produced after doctors' voted at their annual conference in the summer in favour of their union lobbying for a ban, received some support from other health groups.

However, the likes of Asthma UK and the British Heart Foundation said any ban should only cover children.

But smokers' lobby group Forest said there was "no justification" for a ban at all.

Director Simon Clark said: "Legislation is a gross overreaction. What next, a ban on smoking in the home?"

A spokesman for the Department of Health in England said: "We do not believe that legislation is the most effective way to encourage people to change their behaviour."

He said instead a marketing campaign would be launched in the spring which would focus on the dangers of smoking in the home and car.

[furball]

And tomorrow, the government will discuss proposals that the exhalation of carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change and breathing should therefore be rationed. On friday there are plans to formally rename the British Isles to "Airstrip 1".

[gregster]

I smoke (should give up though) and its being able to smoke in my car that saves the front teeth and noses of the idiots on the road, who cant drive, cant be ar5ed to pay attention while they are driving, or who fail to understand the simplest principles of the highway code or driving in general..

Ban smoking in cars...and the casualty departments will be full of idiots whimpering in pain and holding their sore noses....

[Drift]

I agree with it

[gregster]

Gotta say I think it should be illegal to light a fag while driving, but ok at lights etc....hate to think how many crashes occur cos people are lighting up or burning the end of their nose with the car ciggy lighter...
And it should be illegal if you have non smokers in the car, or children....but if you are on your own then its all ok I reckon...

[chrispynuts]

I think this quote about sums everything up :-

"The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible reductions. In this way the people will not see those rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be reversed" - Adolf Hitler

[Gazeddy]

i used to smoke and think this is wrong up until kids are involved. i have never smoked with my kids in the car if the need arose id pull over and get out. but this is wrong next it will be no smoking in your house then it will be no smoking. this is wrong people know the dangers they should be allowed to basically screw themselves up however they see fit.

[Drift]

Hitler was the fist to ban public smoking, not saying he isnt evil but I prefer to be in a smoke free environment, do I not have the right to that?

[furball]

The problem I have with it is that it's a blanket ban. They would have gotten a much more positive response in general if they had limited it to being only in the presence of children. Apart from anything else though it's completely unenforceble, just like the ban on smoking in vans, trucks, etc is.

[Rifleman]

Once again, we are being told how to run our lives.
I'm sick of it.

[Drift]

[furball]

Except the current ban on smoking in company/hire vehicles isn't enforced by the police, it's down to 'civil enforcement' officers (traffic wardens)

[woodwizzard]

You would hope people would have the sense and respect for others not to smoke in a car with others or pets in. Making children or pets breathe in smoke is abuse in my mind. Can't see the harm in a lone smoker smoking though. Good money spinner if they do bring it in though. Probably be a £30 on the spot fine

[snapper]

I totaly agree with the idea. But not only for the reason given. My main reason revolves round the road safety issue along the same lines as banning the use of mobile phones while driving.

If you want to destroy your own health by smoking then fair enough, thankfully they have now banned the habit in public places (not before time, tis really nice being able to go out and come home not smelling like an overflowing ashtray) but please don't put me, my kids, my grandkids or any other road user at risk by smoking while driving and by doing so taking some of your attention away from what it should be 100% focused on..... ie DRIVING THE BL**DY CAR and not lighting up, moving fag from hand to mouth, holding it and not the steering wheel, getting smoke in your eyes etc etc..... And then we come to the really disgusting habit of launching the remenants out of the window when you've finished with it.

Same could in some respects (re-dividing attention away from the driving) be said for adjusting the radio / cd / ipod / tape thing. IMHO theres a good argument for locking up the adjstment side of them while the vehicle is moving unless you have the controls mounted on the steering wheel and therefore within easy reach.




And breath........

[woodwizzard]

Gizmos and gadgets must be the cause of 1000's of dings. That old idea of driving with a metal spike on the steering wheel would re-focus the mind somewhat

[Big Dav]

I would welcome the ban - like mobile phone use by drivers the inattention is frightening. How many folk have seen motorists (won't use the word drivers, that is reserved for those worthy of the title) jumping around in their seat while driving trying to extinguish the dropped ciggie thats landed on the punters lap.

[woodwizzard]

I only smoked once on the bike, got an eye full of ash, wobbled an emergency stop and put it out Knew I should have kept the visor down

[Dannyboy]

I think the answer to it all is take 50p a ltr off fuel and put it on fags!!!! id rather burn money in the bus than in my mouth

[dave1966]

I'm a smoker but that is my own choice to smoke and I should have the choice to smoke while I'm driving or not. I rarely smoke while I'm driving anyway,as I roll my own. I look at the space in my motor as my personal space and I should be allowed to do what I want in my motor.

[Rifleman]

exactly