Should smoking in cars carrying children be banned?

Osem · 07-10-2008, 11:08

Apparently ASH is calling for this and although I would much prefer people to be responsible thereby making such bans be unnecessary, I think there's an argument for so doing given the number of people who puff away subjecting their small children to their noxious fumes in a confined space.

What do you think?

Graham M · 07-10-2008, 11:16

I think there's already enough noxious fumes on the road and taxes on them without worrying about another one.

MovedGoalPosts · 07-10-2008, 11:18

Surely there isn't much difference between that and smoking in a living room where children are playing. Ultimately if smokers are not "aware" enough to be considerate to others there will always be a problem.

Which new enforcement agency would spring up to slap the wrists of the offenders?

Why not just ban smoking outright and be done with it.

07-10-2008, 11:36

They would love to ban smoking outright Rob only two things stopping them 1 is the tax they are happy to take off the people they love to persecute and 2 they don't have the guts to do it much better to do it sneakily and gradually.

**Maggy** · 07-10-2008, 11:40

I'm getting sick of this nanny state..They will be banning chocolate one of these days..then tea,then coffee after they have seen off booze...

southwell · 07-10-2008, 11:41

I think smoking should be banned whilst driving altogether, imo it's just as dangerous if not more so than using a phone. If people need to smoke they should pull over at a services.

07-10-2008, 12:15

Well the nanny state prospers only because they are selective in what they hit at any one time and at the minute it is smoking and all those who hate smoking are jumping in with their support. Sadly they don't realise sooner or later it will be something they enjoy that is facing the chop and then they will expect support to save their preferred thing. What goes round comes around and those foaming at the mouth to have smoking banned will suffer later on. Also i never cease to be amazed at all the people that moan about how high tax is and then say they want a total ban on smoking 5p income tax rise anyone ??.

Kymmy · 07-10-2008, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwell

I think smoking should be banned whilst driving altogether, imo it's just as dangerous if not more so than using a phone. If people need to smoke they should pull over at a services.

In the end you're either killing your children or killing other people due to lack of control.....

Slightly off topic but along the same lines didn't some car insurance companies start charging more for smokers???

STONEISLAND · 07-10-2008, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwell

I think smoking should be banned whilst driving altogether, imo it's just as dangerous if not more so than using a phone. If people need to smoke they should pull over at a services.

How does one Police it? If it was banned.

Kymmy · 07-10-2008, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by STONEISLAND

How does one Police it? If it was banned.

The same way as they police mobile phone usage....

Surgeries have breathalysers that can tell if you've very recently been smoking, also there's video evidence.....

STONEISLAND · 07-10-2008, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

The same way as they police mobile phone usage....

Surgeries have breathalysers that can tell if you've very recently been smoking, also there's video evidence.....

Quote:

The same way as they police mobile phone usage....

And there doing a great job of that!!!!

Osem · 07-10-2008, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Surely there isn't much difference between that and smoking in a living room where children are playing. Ultimately if smokers are not "aware" enough to be considerate to others there will always be a problem.

Which new enforcement agency would spring up to slap the wrists of the offenders?

Why not just ban smoking outright and be done with it.

I don't feel sorry for the smokers - I feel sorry for the babies and children whose parents are sooooo selfish they'd subject their loved ones to either to be honest. However, whereas policing a smoking in front of children ban in a private household is impossible, doing so in public isn't (even if such bans e.g. using mobile phones whilst driving haven't solved the problem entirely).

supremus · 07-10-2008, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I'm getting sick of this nanny state.

But you were just arguing for absurd nannification of teacher pupil relationships?

Quote:

They will be banning chocolate one of these days..then tea,then coffee after they have seen off booze...

There's a significant difference between smoking and chocolate, where there's no 2nd hand health risk to other people in the room. Smoking is a unique health hazard, and it should obviously be banned, certainly around other people. The idea that a parent would smoke in a car with a child is just sickening.

southwell · 07-10-2008, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by STONEISLAND

And there doing a great job of that!!!!

Well yes unfortunately they have to phsyically see them using the phone before they can act, but how else do you suggest they do it?

Nugget · 07-10-2008, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremus

<snip>The idea that a parent would smoke in a car with a child is just sickening.

Why? What's the difference between a parent having a cigarette in the car with the window open, and walking past a pub with your child whilst there are any number of smokers outside it?