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!

Only guessing, but I would think more kids get killed because of the school run than smoking drivers.

aparently i can't smoke in my own car during work hours.

as i am in the car a lot - they can fuck right off.

people should not be allowed to smoke in cars. of course they shouldn't.

gavel.

A report by academics at Brunel University warned that car crashes could rise as the ban on smoking in public places leads more people to take a drag at the wheel.
It said smokers drive 23 per cent faster and are more inconsistent than non-smokers.

Only one in 20 accidents are caused by drivers breaking the speed limit, according to Government figures.

A failure to look properly at the road and traffic is a bigger reason. It was a contributory factor in more than a third of accidents and one in five deaths last year, according to the Transport Department.

yeah i'll stop smoking in the car becuase its such a big distraction when they ban cd players, mp3 players, sat navs and the radio.

when gags for screaming babies are acceptable.

YABU. My father smoked, I was almost always ill (chest infections, tonsillitis, coughs for years, colds), when I moved to university and a smoke free home all of this stopped.
I work in the NHS now and I regularly see small children with chest infections etc, parents often take them outside in the freezing cold so they can light up. These children, like me, have no choice but to breathe in this crap.

YABU
3 Weeks ago my aunt visited my mum, when they pulled up my aunt, my cousin, her friend and my uncle WERE ALL SMOKING my cousins 4yr old was sat in the middle of the back seat. They had ONE window open.

They all smoke in the house too. They think I am a snob because I won't allow my dc's in their car/house. I have explained my reasons.They don't care.

It should be banned. As adults we are protected in the pub, at work, public places etc.
Children have to rely on parents some are too selfish to care

I work in the NHS now and I regularly see small children with chest infections etc, parents often take them outside in the freezing cold so they can light up. These children, like me, have no choice but to breathe in this crap.

But then you're legislating for irresponsible parenting.

It's a legal activity. Plenty of people don't have children, have grown children, etc.

What next? No drinking in the home because you might have children?

If you're going to go that far then just make the entire activity illegal.

But of course, that would mean a big loss for the Treasury so instead they dance round the issue.

Apologies, I missed out the quotation marks:
'I work in the NHS now and I regularly see small children with chest infections etc, parents often take them outside in the freezing cold so they can light up. These children, like me, have no choice but to breathe in this crap.'

Well, we live in a country that has banned alsorts but doesn't ban cigarettes, which is bizarre. Heroin (for example) is banned because it's highly addictive, it's a class A drug yet it only affects the person that injects it. If it were availiable on prescription then theft/prostitution associated with the use would fall dramatically. I say smoking's the same, it's highly addictive yet damages all those who are around the user. Why is tobacco not a class A drug?

The treasury pay out far more to the NHS for lung cancer et al then it recieves in tax from tobacco. It makes more sense to ban it altogether.

My father died almost 2 years ago of COPD caused by smoking so I am a tad biased.

My mother has COPD. It's likely this will be what kills her, as her sort don't die easily and she still smokes from time to time.

But something will kill her, much as I hate to see her go.

Still think they should either shit or get off the pot.

I agree. It's either all or nothing, I'll go back to heroin (I don't use it, it's just a fab example), there's no half measures.

I'm sorry about your mum. My aunt has it aswell, it's a horrible disease.

Smoking in a car with children in it is illegal here (Australia) and it's an excellent system.

Sorry to say it, but "education" only works on concerned, involved parents who almost certainly weren't smoking around their children in the first place.

A blanket ban and a $250 on-the-spot fine is much more effective for people who are resistant to every educational campaign the government wastes its money and its breath with.

I don't understand the idea that if you can't go to an extreme, ie ban smoking altogether, you can't ban it at all....isn't that what the smoking in public buildings has done? And to say you can't ban smoking in cars until you're not allowed in your own home is crazy.

smoking in cars is harmful to children and other passengers, even if your children aren't in the car the toxins and stench is engrained in the car and so still pretty hideous. At the end of the day who needs that many cigarettes and if you do isn't it time to give up? You must wreak after smoking in your car.

My MIL used to smoke in the car all the time with my DH when he was a child, and he has had asthma since a young age. Clearly not EVERYONE has the common sense to be able to make the decision for themselves. I find it hard to have respect for her knowing that she was so inconsiderate to my DH.

YANBU in that, yes, of course it's another example of a nanny state.

YABU to think that that makes it wrong.

Dp smokes, outside of the house, and outside of the car. I would not want to think that anyone else giving dd a lift would be smoking in such close proximity to her.

Can they make car sickness illegal at the same time - never easy to concentrate on the driving when you know what's happening in the back..... (that's not a confused face btw!)

Riven! Should you not be having your makeup done??????

I am a smoker (but not in the UK)

I'd never remotely contemplate to smoke in a car with children (also because I smoke rarely, mostly on social occasions).

"the pollution inside cars from road fumes is probably worse than a bit of smoke". No one ever really dares to discuss this issue... because we need cars.

Hey, is he on his way Riven???

From what I have heard they just want to ban smoking in cars with children in them.

I don't know if I would support it but don't think its unreasonable.

As for the cost to the NHS, ie. us, of treating smoking related illness, in both smokers and their children, well I would say that's more than offset by the fact they all die sooner and we don't need to pay their pensions.