Smoking at the wheel is next to be banned.
Discussion
Courtesy of the Police Oracle:-
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.
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.
Forcing addicted smokers to crave nicotine behind the wheel will not make them drive safer - it will have the opposite effect!
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
XMG5 said:
'In this country, we're libertarians, we like to give people freedoms,
XMG5 said:
'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.
Personally I don't smoke - gave up twenty years ago. I'll benefit from the public place smoking ban in that I'll be able to go to the pub and not stink afterwards. Will I go to the pub more? Well - yes probably. Not much more but a bit more, yes.
Now someone's car is their own private space. They've bought it. They own it. Its theirs. So long as they drive it properly at all times I'm cool with most things they want to do in there. If they wish to tar up their lungs with shite - that's their business.
If, whilst smoking and driving, they commit the offence of careless driving I'd be very happy if Trafpol spots it and deals with it. As I have said before - there are a great many driver-smokers who carefully wait for a long straight, spark up with taking their eyes off the road and who flick their ash into their ashtray and, if an emergency occurred, would drop the fag, deal with it, then pull over and sort the situation out.
Sadly there are twonks who can barely drive for a host of reasons (probably wanking and driving at the same time) who swerve all over the road whilst doing anything in the cockpit other than steering. Even changing gear seems to put them off a straight line.
It is these latter drivers, a tiny minority, who are spoiling things for the rest of us. First it was mobile phones, now smoking.
When will people learn that having noisy kids in the back of the car is dangerous - they distract the driver and may well cause a crash - won't someone think of the children!!!??? Parents should be forced to keep them in a soundproof box in the boot!
My arse.
alphadog said:
Forcing addicted smokers to crave nicotine behind the wheel will not make them drive safer - it will have the opposite effect!
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
Having been followed this morning by "White Van Man" pouring himself a coffee from his flask and then rolling his own and smoking a ciggy in his van all the while following me at about 50 MPH on a busy A road this morning, I just hope the cops do stop people like this and throw the proverbial book at them.......but I bet they won't.
sparks87 said:
In my opinion smoking while driving is just as dangerous as using a mobile phone, therefore I am all for a ban in cars.
But neither are dangerous in the right situations e.g. in a traffic jam where you won't be going anywhere far for a while, or driving on an empty motorway.
We already have the "driving without due care and attention" offense to deal with this. It allows police to fine you if you are being distracted dangerously by a mobile, fag, changing CD, and it allows them to ignore you if you are doing any of these in a safe manner whilst driving.
This is just typical Labour idea of micro-management - why have one law when you can five?
vetteheadracer said:
alphadog said:
Forcing addicted smokers to crave nicotine behind the wheel will not make them drive safer - it will have the opposite effect!
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
There's far better ways to reduce the number of smokers on the road - get them to give up - doesn't risk the rest of us road users in the process if done properly.
Having been followed this morning by "White Van Man" pouring himself a coffee from his flask and then rolling his own and smoking a ciggy in his van all the while following me at about 50 MPH on a busy A road this morning, I just hope the cops do stop people like this and throw the proverbial book at them.......but I bet they won't.
I think DWDCA would cover the scene here perfectly. However until someone designs a camera for that I don't think we'll see too many convictions!
They will want to ban cars with manual gearboxes soon. Then they will ban car stereos.
Whether you smoke or not, this kind of pernicious attack on our liberties has to be resisted.
What they want to ban now may not affect you personally but sooner or later they will want to ban something that you do enjoy or care about.
I for one am sick and tired of all this stupid and unneccesary legislation. When are we going to wake up and smell the coffee in this country?
Ban the nanny state, it diminshes us all.
Whether you smoke or not, this kind of pernicious attack on our liberties has to be resisted.
What they want to ban now may not affect you personally but sooner or later they will want to ban something that you do enjoy or care about.
I for one am sick and tired of all this stupid and unneccesary legislation. When are we going to wake up and smell the coffee in this country?
Ban the nanny state, it diminshes us all.
ocks! Driving requires multi-tasking. You can't drive without it.
Don said:
XMG5 said:
'In this country, we're libertarians, we like to give people freedoms,
XMG5 said:
'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.
Personally I don't smoke - gave up twenty years ago. I'll benefit from the public place smoking ban in that I'll be able to go to the pub and not stink afterwards. Will I go to the pub more? Well - yes probably. Not much more but a bit more, yes.
Now someone's car is their own private space. They've bought it. They own it. Its theirs. So long as they drive it properly at all times I'm cool with most things they want to do in there. If they wish to tar up their lungs with shite - that's their business.
If, whilst smoking and driving, they commit the offence of careless driving I'd be very happy if Trafpol spots it and deals with it. As I have said before - there are a great many driver-smokers who carefully wait for a long straight, spark up with taking their eyes off the road and who flick their ash into their ashtray and, if an emergency occurred, would drop the fag, deal with it, then pull over and sort the situation out.
Sadly there are twonks who can barely drive for a host of reasons (probably wanking and driving at the same time) who swerve all over the road whilst doing anything in the cockpit other than steering. Even changing gear seems to put them off a straight line.
It is these latter drivers, a tiny minority, who are spoiling things for the rest of us. First it was mobile phones, now smoking.
When will people learn that having noisy kids in the back of the car is dangerous - they distract the driver and may well cause a crash - won't someone think of the children!!!??? Parents should be forced to keep them in a soundproof box in the boot!
My arse.
Sums it up perfectly!
combemarshal said:
I'd be glad if they do, I hate being sat next to a car with 2 smoking parents, full of kids and having to breath in the smoke
Why don't you tap on their window next time and ask them to stub it out? Got the bottle? Or is it none of your business?Edited by deeps on Thursday 24th May 01:44
Funny thing is, I'll quite happily drive along smoking a cigarette on my journeys along the M4, but observing other vehicles as I do, I see that most have Satnav/GPS detectors/Mobiles plastered all over their windscreens, some right infront of their face! Now that I could never do! I like to see where I'm going through the clouds of smoke! But, as long as they're concentrating on the road I couldn't care less because that's all that is important, but I'm sure some of them would be first in line to slate me for smoking! Hypocrites!
This subject has highly angered me so much so I'm considering leaving the country as its going from bad to worse.
Two questions;
1. Are passengers allowed to smoke whilst driving? (if so, grab a drag of theirs when the cameras are out of view!)
2. Can you pull over and have a cigarette with out pc plod dumping a fine on you? (after a 4 hour journey, can you stop inbetween and light up whilst in your car but stationary)
Tell me what you think and I am on the phone to DVLA as we speak to see what they say.
Two questions;
1. Are passengers allowed to smoke whilst driving? (if so, grab a drag of theirs when the cameras are out of view!)
2. Can you pull over and have a cigarette with out pc plod dumping a fine on you? (after a 4 hour journey, can you stop inbetween and light up whilst in your car but stationary)
Tell me what you think and I am on the phone to DVLA as we speak to see what they say.
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