Bid to ban smoking whilst driving children

Parents should be banned from smoking in their car if they have a child passenger, claims the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Posted: 17 June 2009
by Kyrsty Hazell

Ban smoking in the car where there are children

Smoking whilst driving your children should be banned, claim experts.

Inflicting second-hand smoke onto youngsters is something that would not be tolerated in public places, so experts are asking why it is acceptable to spark up a cigarette in a car.

“Why on earth would you light up in your car whilst your children are sitting quite happily in the back? On the assumption that you wouldn’t pass the packet round and invite the kids to light up, why make them breathe tobacco smoke at all?” Professor Terence Stephenson told The Daily Mail

Critics of the Professor Stephenson’s comments claim this is an example of the ‘nanny state’ and argue that you cannot legislate for every aspect of people’s behaviour. Professor Stephenson, however strongly disagrees. “Second-hand smoke has been found to be strongly linked to chest infections in children, asthma, ear problems and SIDs.”

What do you think? Should we be allowed to smoke in private spaces like our cars with our children buckled up in the back? Let us know below…

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SIDS, smoking, children, ban, Royal College of Paediatrics and child Health, car, driving, passive smoking, second hand smoke

So what do you think?

Caroline.r
Of course it should be banned! In fact no self respecting parent would smoke with their children in the car or other enclosed space, and the ones who do should be fined! About 4 years ago

paulamilliesmummy
there should definitely be a ban and a big hefty fine, our babys lungs should be looked after not polluted, i dont know why anyone would do it. i saw 2 young people getting out of a car the other day both smoking and a little baby in the back its negligence xx About 4 years ago

theoldwomanwholivesinashoe

While our parents and grandparents could claim ignorance about the dangers of secondhand smoke to their children,there is no excuse for such selfish behaviour nowadays.Most of us would put our children first and either smoke well away from their kids at the very least if not quit altogether,but to smoke in such a confined space is nothing short of selfish and negligent.

A government ban however probably has little to do with an interest in the health of our children,more a tax on the stupid.I wonder how effective it would be anyway,how many children of various ages do you see loose in a car or in inappropriate restraints?How long have those laws been in place?

If a fine would stop one parent lighting up and think about their actions it would be worth it though.

About 4 years ago

x.Laura.x
it drives me crazy enough seeing someone push a pram whilst smoking, i really have very little tollerance of smoking at all let alone around children, buut jos right i see numerous people letting there kids climb around whilst driving i even saw 5 children climb out of a ford focus last week!!! noone stops them these people never get caught and also they never seem to have the bad consequences happen to them! About 4 years ago

Paul Wright

Check this Facebook group out, it's trying to raise awareness of the dangers and lobby for change.

Go to facebook and search for

Ban Smoking in cars when there are kids under 16 in the vehicle

or click this link http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=354790408203

About 3 years ago

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