Ban smoking in cars, says British Medical Association

[Kingofthedead4]

I an not, nor have I ever been a smoker. But surely this is going a bit too far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15744352

[Gary L]

I've changed my mind about this. before I thought mind your own business you stupid nosey do gooders!

I want to see a smoking ban in cars and in homes. if we can't have the homes ban. then mind your own business you stupid nosey do gooders!

actually. I have thought some more. I want a total ban on tobacco products.
I want it to be illegal to produce and sell the disgusting children killing sticks. and I want it to be illegal to buy and smoke them.

and while we're making the country a nicer place to live. I want a total ban on alcohol.

if we can't go that far. then mind your own business you stupid nosey do gooders!

and I want a ban on petrol and diesel engines too.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Kingofthedead4

I an not, nor have I ever been a smoker. But surely this is going a bit too far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15744352

l agree but if l was a driver l certainly would not want passengers smoking in my car.

[Kingofthedead4]

Originally Posted by denphone

l agree but if l was a driver l certainly would not want passengers smoking in my car.

I agree, but at least if you would have the choice.

[Damien]

My default reaction is that since a car is not a public place it's up to the occupants. I do wonder how safe it is too drive whilst smoking but that is presumably covered under existing laws.

That said there was quite a bit of discussion generated from the public places ban and that has turned out well.

[Kingofthedead4]

Has it though Damien? Many a pub and social club have closed which is directly attributed to the smoking ban.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Kingofthedead4

Has it though Damien? Many a pub and social club have closed which is directly attributed to the smoking ban.

Well l am not sure that you can specifically say that certain pubs or social clubs closed just because of the smoking ban as there are many factors at work which contribute to pubs and social clubs closing.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Kingofthedead4

Has it though Damien? Many a pub and social club have closed which is directly attributed to the smoking ban.

Directly? How do they measure that?

[Kingofthedead4]

My father in law is secretary for the local CIU and he as seen the drop as soon as the smoking ban came in. Many people prefer to stay at home and smoke instead of being forced outside on a cold night, and a lot of clubs have there concert rooms upstairs and a lot of people did not want to trail up and down a number of times in the night.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by denphone

l agree but if l was a driver l certainly would not want passengers smoking in my car.

That's your choice. My concern is that the BMA want that choice removed. What other choices will they want removed if they are allowed this? Before you say they won't, I have a memory of advancing the same agument when the ban on smoking in the workplace was proposed and being told they wouldn't, yet here we are.

I don't see the BMA actively campaigning to get pollution levels down. Surely it's not good for kids to be breathing in petrol and diesel fumes while stuck in traffic?

[mertle]

Originally Posted by Damien

My default reaction is that since a car is not a public place it's up to the occupants. I do wonder how safe it is too drive whilst smoking but that is presumably covered under existing laws.

That said there was quite a bit of discussion generated from the public places ban and that has turned out well.

Not safe at all seen the issue had relation smoker dropped it in his lap was jumping up down as it burned him. He was distracted I had to grab the wheel to stop accident. Its simply crazy to smoke while in motion. On safety no brainer to ban smoking while car in motion believe not supposed eat or drink so why not smoking.

The relation since stopped smoking it scary that much.

[denphone]

No l still think people should have a choice of being allowed to smoke in their own car as long as they are in the car on their own or with other smokers but to subject their own children or somebody elses children to that smoke is not acceptable don't you think.

[Peter_]

Smoking is as dangerous if not more so than using a mobile phone while driving, one major difference is that you would be more likely to panic if you dropped a lit cigarette into your lap.

If you can get fined and points for eating at the wheel then the same should also apply to smoking as you are still holding something in your hand.

[mertle]

Originally Posted by denphone

No l still think people should have a choice of being allowed to smoke in their own car as long as they are in the car on their own or with other smokers but to subject their own children or somebody elses children to that smoke is not acceptable don't you think.

do agree to point but do question how safe it is considering what I witnessed with my own eyes. To be fair yet to see statistic where police said cause acident was smoking. Would person admit it anyway or swalled up in general careless driving charge.

See your point about strangers how much exposure would be got short journey say to shop 2 miles would likely be negligable and you can wind window down. Longer journeys are greater risks say 100 miles.

Would air condition also minimise the risk too.

My worry how much control is if the car in motion great risk fag dropping into a lap. I have seen drivers with hand on the window so basically driving one handed. Therefore not in position to react to danger.

I actually think smoking is same risk using mobile but thats opinion based on my incident experience with relation driving.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by denphone

No l still think people should have a choice of being allowed to smoke in their own car as long as they are in the car on their own or with other smokers but to subject their own children or somebody elses children to that smoke is not acceptable don't you think.

I think you'll find that enforcement is the issue here: It's much easier to enforce a blanket ban on smoking in cars vs trying to determine if the car has qualifying passengers for a non-smoking prosecution. I for one would not like to be the traffic cop that was saddled with that dilemma.

Personally I'd like to see a ban, not because of the health issues but anything that takes a drivers concentration off the road should be minimised. I say this as an ex-smoker who had occasionally almost set fire to the inside of the vehicle. Somewhat distracting....