AIBU to think driving and smoking is just stupid?

[early30smum]

On my drive home tonight I saw at least 5 people smoking whilst driving. Not as a passenger, as the driver. AIBU to think it is stupid, dangerous and should be illegal?

It's not great but it shouldn't be illegal, not sure about dangerous.

At least they were probably looking straight ahead....you on the other hand clearly weren't!

I was looking straight ahead! But I can see people in my mirrors, obviously...

Maybe smoking makes them calmer drivers...

Reminds me of the woman who was prosecuted for sipping a drink. What about chewing sweets, listening to the radio, talking to a passenger...
What is it in particular that you think is so much more dangerous about smoking whilst driving?

i vape and drive.
how is it stupid exactly?

I totally agree with you, OP. I actually thought it was illegal (I don't drive or smoke so rather ignorant on the laws around both).

Having something in your hand whilst driving is stupid/dangerous and then there's the added risk of dropping the lit cigarette in the foot well/on your lap etc.

I guess you could drop hot ash in your lap. But most drivers I see seem to flick it out of the window.

YABU. It's none of your business

op you are clearly crazy

I used to smoke and drive. (Non smoker for 4 years now). The fright when a fag end chucked out the window flew back in the window and went down my back was enough to stop me.

What makes it more dangerous imo is that you have to use 1 hand to hold the cigarette and can't just drop it if you need to, a drink you could if absolutely necessary, talking to a passenger you're not using your hands! I don't know, I don't change radio stations or eat or drink whilst driving anyway, but for some reason I think smoking is worse. Fully prepared to be told IABU even though I don't think I am

I change radio stations. I have a button on the steering wheel.

A drink? You need your whole hand to hold a drink. You can still keep the hand with a cigarette in on the wheel. I dont see the issue.

I used to be a smoker and smoked when driving... until one day I went to flick ash out the window and the wind blew it back in, it startled me and I dropped the fag on my knee burning myself.
I handled it calmly and managed to pull over and sort it out but it got me thinking.... what if it was worse, I could easily have lost control of the wheel.

People who smoke with kids in the car, that's a whole other thread. They are twunts

I think smoking anywhere is stupid. And weird.

Just realized how judgy that makes me sound.... I think it's weird that when people try it for the first time, they cough and gag and obviously don't enjoy it. Despite this, they force themselves to keep going until they get addicted. That's why I think it's weird.

Not a smoker but i disagree

YANBU. Unless you could just drop the thing with no ill effects, like a vape or an apple, say, you shouldn't be holding it whilst driving.

As a smoker i think yanbu.

A friend of mine threw hers out of the window. It blew back in and dropped on some papers on the back seat. They started smoking. Didnt fully set on fire. But enough to scare the shit out of her.

I have known people drop them on their laps etc. Personally i think its more dangerous that changing the radio.

What on earth are posters saying it's no different to taking a drink or changing radio stations?! It's lit, as in ON FIRE! In a car! As other posters have had experience of this can go wrong so quickly YANBU op I also think it's should be illegal.

i was a drunken teen passenger in the back of the car, chucked my cig out of the window, it came back in, burnt my coat.

I think smokers who merrily chuck butts out the window ABU. What, is it suddenly not littering just because you lit it on fire? Stick it in an ashtray and throw it away properly.