Who, What, Why: Is smoking in cars dangerous?

[Gerald]

A ban on smoking in cars where children are present may be introduced in Wales. Is lighting up inside your vehicle damaging?

If a campaign to change attitudes does not succeed, a tobacco ban inside vehicles in which children are travelling could be imposed, the Welsh government has warned.

Such a move would bring Wales into line with a number of other jurisdictions around the world. But is passive smoking a danger to passengers?

Anti-smoking campaigners point to a University of Aberdeen study which suggested that it exposes children to levels of smoke comparable to those in a smoke-filled pub.

But the smokers' rights lobby questions the research, saying another study indicates the vast majority of people would never light up with a child travelling alongside them anyway.

If Wales were to adopt a ban on smoking inside cars in which children were present, it would join the US states of California, Arkansas and Louisiana as well as parts of Canada and Australia which have already done so.

Since 2009 smoking has been banned in the UK within vehicles used for work or to transport members of the public. Additionally, the Highway Code advises against smoking while driving because it causes a distraction.

Anti-smoking campaigners say they would like to see the law tightened further.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14142992

Note: 14 July 2011 Last updated at 00:01 GMT

Maybe they should just ban cars . . .
because of dangerouse exhaust fumes.

Busy body idiots!

[Gerald]

It would be unfortunate if this were the case, but it will probably about 50-100 years

[Feuer Frei!]

I don't smoke in the car, when my children are with me.
Or anywhere around them.
This law i support, i think it's sad that a government has to introduce laws and teach parents how to be responsible parents.
Sad really.

[danlisa]

Pfft. I don't wish harm on any children etc etc.....but can the chuffing 'do goods' just butt out?

They originally suggested a ban on smoking while driving because the driver wasn't in full control of his/her vehicle. Apparently, holding a cigarette means you only have one free hand to steer with. This idea was shelved because someone with a modicum of sense reminded the 'do gooders', that changing gear required one hand to be removed from the wheel also.

Now they move on to the 'concentrated smoke' argument. Shut Up! I don't know which spotty faced book worm dreamed this up for a paper thesis but I guarantee you they never conducted research in a moving vehicle. Any driver who smokes always holds his/her cigarette in the hand nearest the drivers window and that window is partially open. Now, due to the forward movement of said vehicle, suction is produced which immediately draws all smoke outside of the vehicle, even when you exhale.

*end rant*

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

This law i support, i think it's sad that a government has to introduce laws and teach parents how to be responsible parents.
Sad really.

Indeed. Not smoking in a car with children is a matter of basic decency, we should need no law for this.
However that's the basic problem. We require training if you want to drive a car, but any moron can just breed without having the slightest clue about raising a child - well, I wouldn't like it the other way either, so I have no real solution.

Protecting the people who are unable to protect themselves is imo more important than the parent's right to smoke, so I go with this law, though having stomach aches about overprotective nanny laws.

But what's about smoking in a convertible?

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Protecting the people who are unable to protect themselves

And you've hit the nail on the head right there

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Protecting the people who are unable to protect themselves is imo more important than the parent's right to smoke.....

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

And you've hit the nail on the head right there

Really?

Where's the law banning smoking while pregnant, drinking while pregnant, eating excessively fatty foods.....yadda yadda yadda.

Oh, that's right, they messed up the whole smoking while driving issue the first time around, so they're going to muscle it though under a different reason.

[AVGWarhawk]

As a smoker who has quit I have to agree that smoking in the car is absolutely awful for anyone who is a non-smoker. The crap stinks. The kid is locked in the rolling smoke chamber. It is clear that smoking is bad for all involved. Good law..I support it and don't care who knows it.

[Armistead]

This is like the new law someone wants to push to call obesity child abuse and in bad cases the parents could lose their kids to the state. The way it's written 6-19% of parents could face a court date if it passes.

I understand the issue, obesity causes much illness and diabetes has increased 10 fold with this generation, but instead of taking the kids away, make the parents pay the medical bills. If they can afford all that food, they can pay the Doctor.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

As a smoker who has quit I have to agree that smoking in the car is absolutely awful for anyone who is a non-smoker. The crap stinks. The kid is locked in the rolling smoke chamber. It is clear that smoking is bad for all involved. Good law..I support it and don't care who knows it.

I can remember as a kid that both my parents smoked when we went on trips, it was awful.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by danlisa

Really?

Where's the law banning smoking while pregnant, drinking while pregnant, eating excessively fatty foods.....yadda yadda yadda.

Oh, that's right, they messed up the whole smoking while driving issue the first time around, so they're going to muscle it though under a different reason.

I am not sure if a mother can be sued if she does intentional harm to her unborn kid - I am not talking about an occasional fag or sip of wine. But if you excessively use drugs during pregnancy, you show that you are unable to think 1 metre ahead and proof that you are unfit to raise a child.

To prohibit driving while smoking is unnecessary, as you already get most of the guilt in case of an accident (e.g. when the driver is distracted because his cig fell on the ground)


To lighten up the thread a little, here is an article about a concerned mother:

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I can remember as a kid that both my parents smoked when we went on trips, it was awful.

Me as well sir. Sad truth I did the same to my kids. After quiting I realised how dreadfully awful it was for them. Could not get away from the smoke. Strapped in with window shut....you know...the A/C was running. I apologized to my kids after found how crappy it was for them.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I can remember as a kid that both my parents smoked when we went on trips, it was awful.

+1

When I was very young I had bronchitis, at the doctor's my parents offered to quit smoking - and the doctor said that would not help. Different times then though, today we know a lot better but still choose the wrong option.

[HunterICX]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

+1

+2

Always got roadsick in the car especially when they smoked.

HunterICX