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

Originally Posted by Penguin

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.

It doesn't take a village to raise a child.
It takes one mother, and one father.

Originally Posted by 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.

I think it's time The People taught The Politicians how to be Responsible Representatives.