Smokers in cars

[downfader]

Watching the news. Fair enough with others in the car, but part of me just says "F*** off!" The BMA are pushing for a ban, I think they're wrong - it wont stop people smoking. I'm not a smoker, but come on.. unless they can prove its detrimental in other ways (eg inattentional blindness) why push for a blanket ban?

 

[david1701]

I'm anti a lot of this smoking regulation, I mean if someone wants to smoke then they should be able to make their own dam decision on it

 

[cyberknight]

It has been proven that using a mobile phone is dangerous , plenty of studies showing the effects and people know the fine for doing it and yet they still carry on regardless.

I think anti smoking laws would be treated with the same level of compliance by the average motorist .

 

[Night Train]

I don't care if someone wants to smoke but I would prefer it if they did it indoors and not when I have to share air space with them. I'd also rather they didn't smoke in cars if driving as it means they take their hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and flick the butts in the street.

 

[Archie_tect]

We didn't buy a second hand car because it stank of old cigarettes, even though the seller had put an air freshener 'bomb' in it + there was fag ash and tar everywhere. Yuk.

 

[PBancroft]

I'm anti a lot of this smoking regulation, I mean if someone wants to smoke then they should be able to make their own dam decision on it

I'm not anti the current regulation. Its not all that long ago that smoking in offices was common place, and my asthma would have a hard time dealing with that. I hated going to restaurants when the next table over would light up. Out of "politeness" they never held their cigarettes over their own tables, they usually held it behind them... or in other words over other people's food.

Now most of that has gone away, and I'm glad. I have made my own damn decision on smoking - I don't want anyone else making my mind up for me that I should by dint of their stinking cancer cloud.

I think banning it in cars is over egging it, but it does raise the question. But then... people still use mobile phones pretty much without danger being pulled up on it, I suspect smoking would be the same.

 

[Gromit]

My mum and dad smoked for years when we were growing. Not a good memory to have, every moment from bathing us to tying our shoe laces they always had a fag in their mouth. My mums face is being destroyed as cancer is eating it away. Not a good sight.

 

[Mozzy]

Banning it in the workplace (offices shops etc) was a good call IMHO. Eating and drinking places too; that was an excellent move. So many places stunk of foul smoke from fags, all good news.

I really hate though people huddled outside of pubs, shops offices restaurants etc ; I really think it looks pitiful and the when walking past the smell and smoke is appalling. It has been illegal to smoke in works vehicles for a while now and that includes cars etc used for business as they are deemed a place of work.

C'mon though, it does start to get a bit daft. We have a Nanny state as is, I just find myself wondering what will be next! There is good though from a proposed ban. As has been said elsewhere, no lit butts flying out of the window would be great, and no horrible fag smoke smell when cycling past or behind ... what is it with exhaled fag smoke, it just stinks something awful; maybe all the chemicals etc?

Funny ol world really. Despite smoking having been around since approx 5000 BC and not until Drake brought it here and Raleigh making it popular, then soldiers being given fags to relieve boredom , it has been a good source of income for HMG. So now it is all change and one must assume lost revenue in tax will be dumped on non smokers to compensate at some stage, if not already.

Ban in cars? Good and bad I suppose. Can't see it coming off though. Oh BTW, I'm still a smoker .... only at home though, they never go anywhere with me.

Mozzy

 

[Peteaud]

First off i smoke - cutting down and down and will kick the habit.

I agree with the ban in food places etc, and although it pains me i have to agree with the ban in cars

I dont want a nanny state but if they banned all cigs i would have to go cold turkey and quit.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I don't mind if folk want to smoke in their own cars but I despair when I see kids in the back of a car and the parents are smoking.

 

[downfader]

Yes there have been benefits in previous bans from workplace to restaurant. But how would they Police this when as already said there are problems Policing the mobile phone abuse..? I dont see it working out.

Mozzy, perhaps Governments are starting to realise that the problems caused by smoking cost far more than the taxes raised...? How much is raised in smoking taxes, a few billion? The NHS has a random £10bn number on its website iirc.

 

[Mozzy]

Yes there have been benefits in previous bans from workplace to restaurant. But how would they Police this when as already said there are problems Policing the mobile phone abuse..? I dont see it working out.

Mozzy, perhaps Governments are starting to realise that the problems caused by smoking cost far more than the taxes raised...? How much is raised in smoking taxes, a few billion? The NHS has a random £10bn number on its website iirc.

Good point, one of which I had overlooked when I mentioned taxes

Obesity though is a huge drain on the NHS (not sure how cost compares to smoking), will the law makers make a law to reduce how much people eat? No never, and yet perhaps equally (No idea if it is equal actually) reducing obesity will have a far greater benefit .... maybe. Just thinking out loud. Generously over weight parents frequently seem to have over weight children.

Surely though it is the passive smoking argument; as far as smoking in a car goes. Thus far though, I am yet to be impressed by any passive smoking TRUE stats. Perhaps because it simply can't be done. Convenient that is!

Mozzy

 

[derrick]

I don't care if someone wants to smoke but I would prefer it if they did it indoors and not when I have to share air space with them. I'd also rather they didn't smoke in cars if driving as it means they take their hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and flick the butts in the street.

you mean not like us cyclist, we always keep two hands on the bars, and i never look at the young girls in mini skirts, just love smelling car fumes especially a bit of diesel, lol

 

[ufkacbln]

What annoys me more is the residue....

Any smoking area is littered with fag ends, and the roads are no better.

Even worse is when you get them dropped out of cars. I have twice been burnt by this.

 

[ColinJ]

I don't mind if folk want to smoke in their own cars but I despair when I see kids in the back of a car and the parents are smoking.

On many occasions I've seen someone with a baby under their arm, and a cigarette in the same hand! Talk about passive smoking ...