smoking in cars ban?

[ivykaty44]

Will it actually work? I can't see that many people smoke around children anyway and those that do will not stop due to legislation anyway, then if people haven't been policed about mobile phones it will be even harder with smoking.

I am not a smoker and don't think people should allow smoking around children but can't see this having any effect

Anything that protects children from the foolish actions of adults can never be pointless IMO.

Also it's politically naive for Labour to get into this now. It won't win them any support. They are already seen as a "nanny state" party though the current Government has done enough to take over that title, in spite of their criticisms of such policies in opposition.

What Labour need to do is focus on convincing people they can run the country. Smoking is becoming more and more unpopular with the price of fags and the bans in workplaces etc. It's a non-issue compared with all the others we face.

My parents were both heavy smokers when I was a child. I had constant sinusitis that cleared up once I left home.

Despite Peggy's family with their lungs of steel, it's pretty obvious that smoking in a confined space with children is not going to do them any favours at all.

I don't get this point that there are bigger things to worry about, of course there is, there always is.

Banning in just sends out a message to people, and I think it would reduce this happening personally.

And if it's a money spinner for them then I wouldn't have a problem with that.

JennyOnAPlate

I think smoking in a car should be banned whether you have children in there or not. If you're lighting a fag and puffing away on it you are not concentrating on driving. I can't see how it's any different to holding a phone to your ear.

Will you also ban driving with the radio on? How about driving while holding a conversation? How about driving while thinking about what to cook for dinner? In all of those situations the driver isn't paying attention.

Dumb legislation that is unenforceable.

I think people should not do stupid things in cars basically. Most people can drive and listen to the radio and hold a conversation without causing a pile up. You can actually keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Unlike when smoking/eating/drinking.

Sparklingbrook

I think people should not do stupid things in cars basically. Most people can drive and listen to the radio and hold a conversation without causing a pile up. You can actually keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Unlike when smoking/eating/drinking.

Presumably we can add your banning of 'doing stupid things in cars' to your plan to protect all children 'from the foolish actions of adults'.

Wouldn't you find it more efficient just to 'ban the stupid'? That would deliver the same unenforceable legislation without the need for specifics.

lucky you peggy. Both my husband and BIL have asthma. My husband nearly died a few years ago. Quite likely as a result of sitting in a smog filled room due to my MIL, whose teeth have all dropped out possibly due to gum disease brought on by smoking.

the thing that also shocked me was that she now smokes outside at home, so she doesn't ruin the paint (no problem her kids lungs, but save the paint!!)

How is banning smoking in the car with minors unenforceable?

You already can't smoke in work vehicles.

I'm sure they are not going to bust a gut trying to hunt people down but it's a message.

So you can't passive smoke on work colleagues but you can on your children.

I would love to 'ban the stupid' flatpack.

Exactly Harold it's a message for the numptys who think that it's an ok thing to do.

HaroldLloyd

How is banning smoking in the car with minors unenforceable?

How are you going to police it? Take me through the specifics of a prosecution. Does the EVIL SMOKER need to be caught in the act? What happens if there's a used cigarette in the ashtray and children in the back? What happens if the car smells of smoke and there's a child seat? Is that proof?

What will the punishment be?

It's ridiculous. And how often do the rozzers stop people these days anyway? They don't have the time. Their number plate readers scan for dodgy cars, they know the sort of cars they're interested in, and 'smoking while driving with child on board' sounds like about 15 pages of paperwork for a pointless piddling fine. No copper worth his boots will bother.

I can see the people that care getting the message loud and clear, but they most probably don't smoke in the car any.

But those that don't care will probably not bother yo change third habits and justify themselves by saying it s a load of bollocks anyway that smoking in cars is harmful to children

I saw three men light up the other day and then get inside their removal van work vehicle and sit in the cab smoking, before getting out again and continue with the job, it wasn't raining either.....

Welcome and long overdue!

Like I said flat pack, I doubt they will bother.

However knowing they might get an on the spot fine might deter some people as well as the clear message it's banned.

I am sure they are not planning on employing a crack commando unit of fag police.

Yes, they don't have 'seatbelt police' or 'mobile phone police' but the risk that you could get caught should be a deterrent.

Smoking is incredibly harmful. Full stop. It can cause a myriad of cancers, scientific research has proved this.

Wouldn't you find it more efficient just to 'ban the stupid'? That would deliver the same unenforceable legislation without the need for specifics

For once I have to agree with the Hamster.

This is a liberal democracy in name only, another fucking illusion of those who want us to think we have freedom. Another example of how the power of the state is used to wage a war upon on our freedoms, when the actual stated purpose is meant to protect our freedoms.

What next? The long arm of law indeed.

Just reading some of the comments in favour...why are people parroting back what they told. Why is it that every new encroachment upon our freedoms is seen as welcome because some research, some bloke, some TV programme, some news paper, some such other culturally hegemonic entity says so.

I am not making a case for smoking in cars, as I detest cigarette smoke. I am making a case against the 'fink of da liddle children' argument BackBriefly quite rightly pointed out. We are patronised enough.

Well, if someone had thought of me as a liddle child, I just might have more than 42% lung capacity now

Bring it on. Of course people will still do it, just like tossers still go on their phones while driving, but if it stops just a few then it will be worth it, for the sake of their children.

Peggy, I am fairly speechless. Lucky you and your family - does that make it the case that no one ever really gets ill because of smoking/passive smoking? Passive smoking never harmed anyone? I never ended up being blue lighted to hospital when pregnant because someone lit up next to me in a bus stop?

Take a look at some COPD statistics and educate yourself.

How about freedom to breathe, Mini?

Freedom for our children not to develop lung disease?

It's not about war against freedom, it's about perfectly sensible protection in the light of what we know about smoking's effects.

Well, if we cared about children's safety and wellbeing, frankly we would drive about 10% of the amount we currently do. We bundle them into cars on the slightest pretext and then if we are not making them obese through lack of exercise, we are banging into them by driving too fast, or filling their homes with exhaust fumes thereby lowering their IQs. It seems to me we only pick the low hanging fruit when it comes to child welfare.

What's next? No fucking in cars?
Yeesh.

Not while the DC are in it IfNot. or whilst driving.

God, there's some utter bollocks on this thread - real flat-earther-ism about the dangers of smoke.

As I said at the beginning of the thread, I'm for the ban because of simple safety, the same as mobile phones. But the fact that it would save kids like I was from the sickening effects of second hand smoke is certainly not a negative.