To think this latest call for a ban on smoking in cars is another example of bossy nanny state

[5Foot5]

First let me say that I am a non-smoker; I have always been a non-smoker; I do not like being in a smoky atmosphere and I would not tolerate smoking in my house or my car.

But that is my house, my car and my choice.

Today's papers carry a story that "leading" doctors and the Chief Medical Officer want a ban on smoking in all cars because of a study showing the connection between passive smoking in children and asthma attacks.

Now I realise that asthma is a dangerous and distressing illness and I have sympathy for the sufferers and their families. But surely any parent of an asthmatic, if they have any common sense, would already be doing their utmost to ensure that the children live and travel in a smoke-free environment. If there are parents who are stupid and selfish enough to ignore the advice and continue to smoke around their asthmatic children, surely that is the problem to be addressed?

More could be done to help those children by targetting and educating the parents who are the problem, rather than penalising the population at large who want to indulge their vice in the privacy of their own car where they are harming noone but themselves. It seems madness to me that someone who is not an asthmatic, has no family members who are and who never gives a lift to anyone who is, should be prevented from smoking in their car and to suggest that this will somehow protect other childrens health.

Frankly I think this latest twist is just another attempt by the health fascists to stamp out a behaviour that they disapprove of. A ban on smoking in cars has been suggested before and not been carried forward. This latest attempt is cynically using the children's health angle because they see that as a more emotive issue that might win support where they failed before.

If this ban went through then I would not be personally affected in any way but it still makes me irritated that there are people who think it is their right to dictate to the rest of us what we should and shouldn't be doing for our own good.

Rant over!

yanbu
it will be impossible to police.
ecucation is the way forward.

I don't actually care if this ban goes ahead actually but I do think it's a good idea.

However, I do object to this slogan/label 'nanny state' and it's link to labour. All they are doing is reminding thick people about their responsibilities and what is wrong with that? It is a good thing surely.

I used to know a guy who smoked in his house and had an asthmatic son-I was shocked etc and he was just plain thick and selfish and needed to be told.

Everyone goes on about how great Sweeden is for health and health care...there is a reason for this. They tell/advise people on health issues and they accept and get on with it. In this country we don't like it.

I think this country is very strange and ungrateful and that the government/doctors are only trying to do their best and looking out for our interests.

Seriously tho, who would take any notice of this ban? I'm always seeing people chatting away on their mobiles without a care in the world.

The only people who seem to get caught are usually on "motorway patrol" or some other crappy motoring show.

Its a pet hate of mine to see some ignorant fucker flick their fag out of a car window! I'd love to gather it up and flick it straight back in their stupid faces

YANBU, I am a non smoker, however if the person were travelling alone in their own car or with adult passengers who dont mind wheres the problem? What next banning smoking in every home (they already do in rented properties)but privately owned homes too?

My exH smokes in his car with my kids even though my DS has asthma (apparently I've made up the asthma to annoy him ). So yeah, his car, his choice but what about my Ds' choice - or even dd's or MY choice about what happens to my kids? DS aleays has bad asthma when he comes home . I would love a ban!! And a ban on those people who wander down the street holding a fag at child height - saw a child run into one once and got burned. Obviously it was the 4 yo's fault according the smoker! Have always been aware of that happening to my dc ever since!

Leslaki
your exH sounds like a wanker. But what has my smoking in my car got to do with your DS's asthma? Your exH will still be a wanker if it becomes illegal, and smoke around your DS elsewhere.

Today I drove into work behind a car carrying a couple and a baby of around 9/10 months. Both adults, in the front seats of the car, were smoking. They had the windows open a crack, and regularly checked the baby in the back of the car. Both adults were smoking.

I am stunned that anyone thinks it is ok to smoke around children, particularly in an enclosed environment like a car.

I do agree with making smoking in cars, especially if children are present, illegal. It can be enforced the same way that mobile phone use us. It is law in several states in America, it could easily be law here too.

i think making people aware of how gross it is to smoke in a car or in a home with kids in, is a good thing.
enforcing a ban is impossible, but I agree that doing that to an innocent kiddy is really neglectful.
I smoke, but would never do it in an enclosed space with dd. I don't smoke in my car or home at all actually.

Of course ban smoking around children, and if you have themn in the car or house you should not smoke, but if you are on your own, dont have children or children grown up than its your car or house to smoke in or not.

OK, ban smoking in a vehicle at any time when that vehicle is also carrying under-16s.

I'm inclined to agree that if someone never carries children in their car & chooses to chuff away in it, that's their business.

But if you have been smoking in your car and then, 10-15-20 minutes later put a baby/child in the car, they will still be breathing in your second hand smoke.

The point is that smoking in any environment that children will share, and doing anything that takes your attention away from the road whilst driving, is not acceptable, and if people can't be trusted to do these things (or not) for themselves, then legislation is the next best thing.

See the thing is, smoking is shit. Doesn't get you drunk, doesn't get you high, doesn't chill you out, pretty much only satisfies a craving that was created by the substance in the first place. Costs you money, damages your health and with no upside.

Just suck it up and give up.

YABU - I had no choice but to breathe passive smoke for two decades before I left home. I wish my mother had been forced by law if not by conscience to stop it, at least in the car. I hated it. Plus my dad who has never smoked developed lung problems sometimes the nanny state needs to stand up for people who otherwise have to put up and shut up.

The health reasons for the ban are obvious and lots of opinions already on here, but for me the worst part is the danger of holding a burning object when in control of 1-2 tonnes of moving metal FFS! If we can't text, call, blow noses, eat bananas and many other things people are fined for, why the hell are so many people still getting away with smoking at the wheel??

YABU. The Government should do what it can to protect children's health. I doubt that it would make a blind bit of difference though - The number of people I see blatantly using mobile phones. Some people just don't give a crap.

have seen a mother , who has a child who carries a nebulizer with him, who smokes in the car, when child and siblings are in the car.

for me, its enforceing the rights of the health of the child over the parent who is not wise enough to make that choice.

its been proven that even smoking away from a child is not enough to stop expose to the harmful chemicals , from breath or on clothes.

this is an important step forward to protect childrens long term health.

and on a personal note, both my parents smoked, i never have, yet my health has and is affected by it.

Nanny state only needed if people can't see the obvious damage being done by something as selfish as smoking in a confined space with their DC. Most smokers I know smoke well away from their DC

Am a smoker, as is dh. Neither of us smoke in my car ever, as that is the car that we transport ds in, dh smokes in his, but only him ever in. We both smoke outside at home.

Few weeks ago was loading car at Ikea, car next to me had "grandad" "grandma" "mother(in 20's) all smoking with window down an inch - with a small (no more than 1) child in the back. I was utterly disgusted.

If the smoking ban stops these folk doing this then bring it in, but sadly, as has been mentioned before, who is going to stand in Ikea car park stopping them.

Very sad

bridewolf - that poor boy - what a selfish bitch! If you can't kick the habit fine but go outside/faraway from the kids. Arghh.

On the whole I agree with you GM.

But looking at practicalities - if person A is a parent who regularly smokes in his car, including when carrying dc as passengers, then a ban on smoking with children in the vehicle, might actually have a twofold effect - drivers think twice about inflicting smoke on passengers, especially minors, AND it becomes generally less OK to fag it in a family car.

Meanwhile, person B is childless & NEVER carries passengers, she is harming no-one but herself by stinking out her own vehicle...I'd argue that it'd be a bad use of law to prosecute her for indulging in a perfectly legal drug habit, in a manner which harms no-one else.

It'd certainly be easier to police if you started by getting the cops to only pull over smoking drivers if they had passengers...

"..it'd be a bad use of law to prosecute her for indulging in a perfectly legal drug habit, in a manner which harms no-one else.."

But Raven, only until one day, drops a ciggie between her legs, panics trying to get it whilst it's burning her legs, loses concentration and mows someone down and kills them??

As a child I spent many a journey coughing and spluttering or head hanging out the window then being told to roll it up as my Mum and Dad chain smoked in the front, it was disgusting, it used to make my eyes water.

Yes it should be banned to stop other young children going through the same.

But I think it is so hypocritical how much money the govt take off smokers, then tell then where they can light up.

Smokers are mugs sorry addicted mugs but mugs all the same.

I wish they'd grow a pair and just ban it altogether.

But they won't.

And that would be impossible to police/enforce.

And what if you don't have kids? Why should smoking, a legal activity, be banned in cars as a form of legislation against irresponsible parents?

Different argument entirely lotster!

If you're arguing from 'activities that might dangerously distract the driver', then just based on dh dropping me at work this morning, you'd have to include:

1. testing ds's spellings
2. discouraging dd1 from punching dd2 for no good reason
3. remonstrating with dd2 for ear-splitting screaming
4. ignoring dw for comments made re: swearing at dc...

etc etc.

Or you could be wearing hotpants & drop a choc-ice...

I'm all for a total ban/prescription only, with the hope that it's a (literally) dying habit. But whilst it's perfectly legal, you can only realistically legislate re: harm to others that could reasonably be anticipated & avoided

They can't even enforce the handheld mobile phones ban, who are they going to do this.

Ok but there aren't laws against arguing in cars (..although if you're going to start on children there should definately be a law against my son repeatedly kicking the back of my seat the litte buggerdahling..)

There are comparable safety laws as to exactly what else you are allowed in you hands when they are supposed to be on the wheel, e.g. mobile phones which can cause distraction, so why on earth aren't fags given the zero tolerance too?

Back in my youth when I smoked for a while, I did actually drop a cigarette in my lap (yes, whilst wearing denim shorts, get out of my head voodoo woman!) and it gave me a blardy big blister and caused me to stamp the accelerator instead of the brake in my panic so I know it can happen!