UK & World NewsHere you can find a variety of news stories from around the world, including sport, health, education, politics, science, economy and more, which we would like you to share your thoughts and opinions with us about.
Britain's senior road safety campaigners are calling for a ban on smoking while driving, in an attempt to cut the number of crashes.
The Department of Health said last night that it would seriously consider a ban, which is also being looked at in Germany, Australia and America. The move was backed by anti-smoking campaigners but drew criticism from others as an attack on personal freedom. From 1 July, England will join the rest of the UK by introducing a ban on smoking in enclosed public places and at work.
The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association, which represents councils - responsible for the majority of Britain's roads - will meet transport officials within weeks to ask them to pass a ban on smoking at the wheel.
The association claims that drivers are in danger when they take their hands off the wheel to find, light and smoke cigarettes, and are particularly at risk if a lit cigarette or ash falls in the car or is blown back through the window. The organisation, which represents 180 of Britain's 200 local roads authorities, fears that once people who drive are stopped from lighting up in other places from 1 July, they will smoke more while in their own cars.
'Driving is a complicated business, especially with the high volume of traffic motorists have to contend with these days. It's not an area where you can multi-task,' said Simon Ettinghausen, a spokesman for the association. He said the existing law banning the use of hand-held mobile phones in cars showed special bans were more effective than general road-safety legislation.
'In this country, we're libertarians, we like to give people freedoms, but if you are distracted unfortunately your freedom to do these things can affect other people's lives,' he added. Last year there were 3,201 deaths on Britain's roads.
The Department of Health said it was 'looking at how we can get further momentum towards smoking cessation beyond the introduction of the smoking ban in England'.
'We are looking at further proposals and this could be one of them. If the road safety officers put information and evidence before us about this, and explain the case for it, we would study it,' said a spokeswoman.
Amanda Sandford of the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health said: 'We fully support this proposal. Not so long ago it would have seemed inconceivable that we would have a total ban on smoking across the country, but in a few years time people will think it's inconceivable that we allow people to continue to smoke while driving.'
Andrew Lansley, the Conservative shadow Health Secretary, condemned the plan as a denial of citizens' rights to decide how they behave in their own personal space. 'Parliament hasn't accepted the completely anti-libertarian view that people can't do what they like in their own homes and own cars,' he said.
Please tbh but of course it won't happen forever I think. It drives me crazy sitting next to or even behind someone who smokes. Sure it's ok to open the window and let the smoke out but I still get to smell it and cough up half my lungs -.-'
Hmm....I don't know, I don't think banning it in cars will reduce car crashes much but instead of smoking, you will get road rage from people dying to smoke. O.O
Theyre talking about banning smoking while driving, not just smoking in cars, arent they?
I personally think smoking whilst driving is pretty reckless and irresponsible, smoke first then go drive where your going. All it takes is a dropped cigarette on or under your seat or some hot ash to start a little campfire in your back seat and youve got big problems.
I cant understand why everyone was so accepting of banning mobile phones, which were distracting, but when it comes to banning smoking people start making excuses for it and claiming its suddenly infringing personal rights. If something goes wrong you can drop a mobile phone, you cant really drop your cigarette on your lap or randomly into your car. Equally finding cigarettes, lighting up while driving is dangerous, and if you drop your cigarette or ash in the car its surely highly distracting.
Smoking with children in the car, window open or not is also incredibly selfish.
I also think that doing anything distracting whilst driving, from reading a newspaper, to rolling a joint or constructing a snack, should fall under some category of stupidity.
Smoking with children in the car, window open or not is also incredibly selfish.
often when im doin the school run i will see folks parked up in there car puffing on a fag while the little one is in the back
window slightly open
i mean how hard is it to stand outside the car and smoke??
often when im doin the school run i will see folks parked up in there car puffing on a fag while the little one is in the back
window slightly open
i mean how hard is it to stand outside the car and smoke??
Yep. I mean its exactly the reason why people smoke weed in cars, because you end up trapped with sooo much smoke that youre constantly re-inhaling it.
Its fine if its just a person in their own car or with another smoker on a smoke break or whatever.
I'm tired of you liberal hippies trying to claim that there's a upside to smoking in the car.
It's dangerous, children may somehow be involved, and what's more, it's unpatriotic.
You ageing commie douches are lucky I'm not in power, or I'd ban driving while driving before finding your asses and sticking you in a ditch.
Lights out...guerrilla radio...turn that **** up...
Theyre talking about banning smoking while driving, not just smoking in cars, arent they?
I personally think smoking whilst driving is pretty reckless and irresponsible, smoke first then go drive where your going. All it takes is a dropped cigarette on or under your seat or some hot ash to start a little campfire in your back seat and youve got big problems.
I cant understand why everyone was so accepting of banning mobile phones, which were distracting, but when it comes to banning smoking people start making excuses for it and claiming its suddenly infringing personal rights. If something goes wrong you can drop a mobile phone, you cant really drop your cigarette on your lap or randomly into your car. Equally finding cigarettes, lighting up while driving is dangerous, and if you drop your cigarette or ash in the car its surely highly distracting.
Smoking with children in the car, window open or not is also incredibly selfish.
I also think that doing anything distracting whilst driving, from reading a newspaper, to rolling a joint or constructing a snack, should fall under some category of stupidity.
All very true! I dont drive or id probably be hypocritically defending my rights but it makes sense to ban it, just as they have using a fone.
I think they should ban it, my ex used to throw his cigs out the window only for them to fly back in and set the back seat smoldering. It does make me feel tho "what the heck are they gonna ban next?"
getting a `BJ` while going down the motorway?
giving bad drivers the bird?
picking your nose?
eating the contents of pre-picked nose?
fumbling round in mouth cos contents of pre-picked nose contained nasal hair?
getting a `BJ` while going down the motorway?
giving bad drivers the bird?
picking your nose?
eating the contents of pre-picked nose?
fumbling round in mouth cos contents of pre-picked nose contained nasal hair?
all distracting tbh.
Talking whilst driving, listening to music whilst driving or even having a slip of water whilst driving? They are all distracting but at the same time stupid to ban.
More for Gore or the son of a drug lord?
Don't they already have laws that stop ******ed drivers? Something along the lines of an examination of some sort. I think it's probably sexual.
I can see the pegislation being passed one day, but its not the right time for it now. Another example of stupid laws being made to make people think that the government are "doing something". Of the 3000+ people killed on the road, most are because alcohol is involved, so why is there a drink drive limit? Why hasnt drink driving been completely banned years ago?
I would rather there be a total ban on drink driving first than smoke driving
getting a `BJ` while going down the motorway?
giving bad drivers the bird?
picking your nose?
eating the contents of pre-picked nose?
fumbling round in mouth cos contents of pre-picked nose contained nasal hair?
It will never happen obviously. Some two-bit organization of busybodies just sending out a press release about their latest stupid idea.
It's not news and I am a bit disappointed to see it here.
It's almost like we're...just victims of the in-house drive-by. They say jump you say how high.
"I heartily accept the motto, 'That government is best which governs least'; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--'That government is best which governs not at all'. - Thoreau
Now drivers face ban on smoking at the wheel
but it makes sense to ban it, just as they have using a fone.
Linear Mode
