18/11/2011
Will private cars become a public place?
Apparently The British Medical Association is asking ministers to extend the smoking in public places ban to the inside of people’s private vehicles.
Now, although this may sounds outrageous, the potential ban has research backing it which can’t really be ignored.
Reportedly, people in a car with a smoker are exposed to 23 times more toxic fumes than they would have been when in a smoky bar or pub before the smoking ban was put in place in 2007.
Personally I think that there should be a ban on people smoking in their cars when they have passengers, especially children. I know from first hand experience that having someone’s smoke fly at you from the front seat for 10 minutes every 15 to 20 minutes of a long journey is not pleasant.
However, I can also see things from the smokers’ group Forest’s perspective. One of its members has stated, “Legislation is a gross over-reaction. What next, a ban on smoking in the home?”
True…and how would we set about policing smoking in cars when people are constantly speeding on the motorway without so much as a warning?
It’s a tough one.
Now, although this may sounds outrageous, the potential ban has research backing it which can’t really be ignored. Reportedly, people in a car with a smoker are exposed to 23 times more toxic fumes than they would have been when in a smoky bar or pub before the smoking ban was put in place in 2007.
Personally I think that there should be a ban on people smoking in their cars when they have passengers, especially children. I know from first hand experience that having someone’s smoke fly at you from the front seat for 10 minutes every 15 to 20 minutes of a long journey is not pleasant.
However, I can also see things from the smokers’ group Forest’s perspective. One of its members has stated, “Legislation is a gross over-reaction. What next, a ban on smoking in the home?”
True…and how would we set about policing smoking in cars when people are constantly speeding on the motorway without so much as a warning?
It’s a tough one.
Photo © Mykl Roventine via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: British Medical Association, car, front seat, motorway, passenger, private vehicle, smoking, speeding
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