No Smoking in the Car

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Doctors recommend a ban on smoking in cars

This seems like a no-brainer. Aside from the toxic atmosphere created inside the car, it can't be a good idea to be messing about with lighters etc. rather than keeping eyes on the road.

no smoking in a car if you have kids in there, perfectly acceptable.

no smoking in your own car if you are on your own, or have no kids ...

ridiculous.

Firstly, the science behind the BMA statement is typical cherry-picked data which is easily debunked by anyone willing to spend a few seconds reading what?s going on behind the attention grabbing headline. See my earlier post on this topic. There is no justification for the statement that they make that smoking in a car is 23 times more dangerous than being in a smokey car. This is flawed science served up by arseholes on a platter to people who should know better.

Secondly, if someone chooses to smoke, what is the biggest risk they face? Would it be from the secondary smoke inside a car, or would it be from the primary smoke from that cigarette that they're smoking? As cigarette packets are covered in information detailing the risks of smoking, and I find it hard to believe that anyone over the age of 16 is unaware of the dangers of smoking in this day and age. One can only conclude that the smoker has chosen to accept whatever risks they are exposing themselves to and any further nagging makes you sound like an interfering shrill and a twat.

Thirdly, all government legislation contains a non-sequitur if you look closely enough. If the whole point of this legislation is to protect a smoker from their second hand smoke, it stands to reason that there should be no objection to people smoking in a convertible car with the roof down.

Fourthly, if I buy a car it is my private property and, so long as I'm not endangering other people, I am free to do whatever I like with it. Likewise, if you object to me firing up a Monte Cristo in my car, why not walk or get the bus?

I don't feel at all comfortable calling for things to be banned if they have no effect on me, my family, my friends, my way of life etc. This is for a very good reason. I simply detest marmite, tattoos on women and babies with pierced ears - in Mr.Pantsworld I'd happily ban these things - but I know other people get pleasure from them and, hey, that's their lookout. If I went around calling for things to be banned left, right and centre, I'd be the arsehole and the twat and any other expletives I could think up too.

I'll happily live my life without interfering with yours if you agree to extend the same courtesy back to me.

BTW - I am not a smoker.

Ridiculous illiberal nonsense.

Why not ban farting in helicopters?

Today while waiting to cross the road a van went past, it's driver was looking at a phone and wearing earphones.

if they can't be arsed enforcing the rules that are there all ready why make more?.

And what a complete load of bullcrap, I've never smoked in my life but what the hell is this meant to mean? knocking on the car windows of smokers to tell them it's unhealthy, em I think they all ready know that, but it's their life choice. and say a child is in the car so what?, at least the kids can roll down a window, what are they going to do follow the cars home and install police officers in homes to make sure they are not smoking inside the house?.

Having grown up with parents who both smoked in the car I can tell you it's horrible. Despite me being asthmatic and the fact that my sister and I used to put anti-smoking signs in the car (!) my parents kindly ignored all this and carried on puffing. Of course they had the windows down, but this just blew ALL the smoke into the back. If it had been made illegal then we might have stood a chance of persuading them to stop (in the car at least). It's not ridiculous nonsense, it's about trying to protect children's health and I'm whole heartedly for it. It will be imposed like the mobile ban, some will still flout it but hopefully the majority won't. Even without the kid's health issue, driving around with something lit seems totally unsafe to me.

"I remember everyone saying ' how will it be enforced' when seatbelts became compulsory.... It just evolves, like with using mobiles. You always get one or two of course, but 'bans' do work"

Not sure about that, considering the amount of idiots I see driving along whilst chatting on their phones. I was waiting at traffic lights at a crossroads recently when a van drove across in front with the driver clearly on the phone. I waited for the police car parked in the lane next to me to perhaps do something about it but they obviously didn't care.

saw this yesterday quite funny!

I can see far more accidents being caused by people trying to hide their cigarette from every passing police officer and police vehicle than have ever been caused by quietly smoking!

Children in a car is quite different.

(I smoke - it's my damn car - what really scares me is by the time they've finished with the smokers then chocolate and alcohol will be next.)

The day they threaten my booze, will be the day I set fire to David Cameron's trousers, it's bad enough the cost of the stuff. (which is another load of crap, they only heavily tax things they know people are not going to stop buying, like fuel, booze and fags.

The mobile ban is bollocks I see at least 5 people a day driving around with their phones and the police don't care, all so wearing earphones, thats illegal too but no one cares.

Whats the point in stopping people in their cars to tell em not to smoke round the kids when they are only going to do it at home anyway if they are that way inclined, healthwise it will make no difference to anyone.

I definitely think they should ban smoking in cars. I think it's dangerous, as people have mentioned here already holding a cigarette, lighting one whilst driving - dangerous. Also when people fling them out of the window it can fly back in (tbh that is there fault), but I have a convertible car and I worry one will fly into my car, I have a burn on the roof that must have happened this way (would cost me thousands to repair!), plus the health issues to any passengers.

BAN IT, BAN IT, BAN IT! No brainer.

can we please ban small children in cars too.
they are terrible distractions

They are discussing this on Question Time now.

The BMA has had to retract that made-up stat about passive smoking in a car being '23 times' worse than in a bar. Email from the press office popped up in my inbox earlier on today. Feckers.

am watching this on question time. it's making me seethe

modern cars have so many gadgets in to them to distract, yet they are allowed

smoking a cigarette in your own car is bad, why exactly?

i think the goverment should concentrate by the mess they have made of people's lives in the last few months

people will start smoking again through stress at this rate

(They are now claiming it's 'up to 11 times' worse. Although why anyone should trust their maths, I do not know.)

I remember when people used to smoke on the buses, it was vile. I was only young and I'd feel so ill I'd have to get off to throw up. I watch some parents breathe smoke on their children and I find it disgusting. I wish they would ban it, it's a selfish habit IMO. I resent having to hold my breath before I walk into a shop or a pub because people are smoking outside, I hate the fact that I used to care for their sick children because it was their habit which made them unwell in the first place. It's a vile habit. People talk about personal choice and civil liberty? What about the choice of their children not to breathe it in, why is the personal choice and the civil liberty of the parent more important?

Rant over.

Ban Satnavs they seriously distract drivers.
Ban heated seats and massage seats and air con.

Cars are more and more being made all comfy like home with all mod cons to help people relax while driving, which is the last thing they should be doing while driving.

And get the damn dogs out of the passenger seats, real dogs that is not peoples spouses, but in the case of how some behave that wouldn't be a bad idea as well.

Ryoko, I agree with what you say about not making people too comfy, except for the aircon. Surely it's warm air that would make people nod off, and a blast of cold air would be a good thing?

Ridiculous idea and I don't smoke. Luckily the coalition has vowed not to engage in nonsense like this

Smoking in cars should be banned to guard children. Children are at a fastidious risk from secondhand smoke in cars as they let in more of the chemicals from the cigarettes than elderly people.

Electronic Cigarette