What happens if the driver's under 18?!

[DoubletheRage]

Smoking in cars with children banned

I've never understood why it's legal to smoke and drive, regardless of who the passengers are. Getting a fag out, lighting it and then dealing with the ash must be just as distracting as eating, which you can be fined for.

I don't think this law is needed. If you are smoking you are driving without due care and attention as you say. You don't need another law to protect children. Anyway, unless a police officer happens to see you you are going to get away with it.

Next you'll tell me someone switching the radio on or off is also driving without care and attention...

Plenty of opportunities to light a cigarette and smoke without losing control, but some parents will happily smoke with children in the car and this may go some way to reducing the passive smoking levels.

From a non-smoking, non-driver (but passenger of some smokers over the years, and not felt at risk at all). I may detest ciggy smoke myself, but defend the right of those who smoke to do so, so long as they take notice as to whether others may be affected, too. (So a friend who chain smokes will rarely have his car window closed, as he knows I don't smoke.)

muminhants - the new law isn't about the driver. It bans anyone from smoking in a car carrying children. Its about passive smoking in a very confined space, not road safety.