Smoking whilst driving
Discussion
I was thinking the other day when i saw someone smoking and driving at the same time. I am sure this has been a topic of discussion before but can't find anything. If a mobile phone is banned whilst driving because it takes on hand off the wheel and is a distraction, why is smoking not banned as it has exactly the same effect and more. I would say smoking and driving would be more dangerous than using a phone. Are there laws in the pipeline for this or is it something that has been brought to the table and rejevted ?
>>> Edited by TDTH1975 on Friday 21st January 15:41
>>> Edited by TDTH1975 on Friday 21st January 15:41
Plotloss said:
No it doesnt.
When you speak on a mobile you have your concentration in two places. The driving and the phone call.
I am pretty sure in saying that even the most cretinous of morons can breath AND drive at the same time...
The problems arise with those devious cigarettes that do a dummy as you flick them out the window and then whip back in between your back and the seat and start smouldering away
I have found that this can have an adverse effect on concentration 
Plotloss said:
No it doesnt.
I am pretty sure in saying that even the most cretinous of morons can breath AND drive at the same time...
True its easy enough when it's going well. The problems come with...
Lighting it in the first place.
Dropping it in your lap.
Setting fire to the ashtray.
Dropping it down the side of the seat.
That thing where it sticks to your lips and your fingers slide down and take the end of so you are left just holding the burning bit between two fingers.
The pro-smoking argument to my mind is that you don't get more stressed and irritable with phone withdrawal. After three hours in the car with lousy traffic and no fag I would probably break every rule in the book to get to a 'smoking zone' as quickly as possible.
I beg to differ - i would be concentrating on where I was putting the ash by looking away from the road and at the ash tray, I would also be making sure that I put it out which is another distraction, lighting it is a distraction too but more importantly and the reason for hands free on telephones is that you should have 2 hands on the wheel.
(This is my opinion by the way - not angling for an argument here, was just wondering if there had been any legal mutterings. I am a fan of less bans, not more)
(This is my opinion by the way - not angling for an argument here, was just wondering if there had been any legal mutterings. I am a fan of less bans, not more)
BliarOut said:
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban 
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban
Ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban ban
Sorry, is the anger at the idea of lots more pointless banning of things or at smoking in cars?
I imagine it is much easier to smoke while driving than talk on the phone as you can either hold a cigarette between your fingers while you hold the wheel or keep it in your mouth, so the driver always has two hands to use for driving.
As for drivers throwing butts out of the windows...
As for drivers throwing butts out of the windows...
TDTH1975 said:
I beg to differ - i would be concentrating on where I was putting the ash by looking away from the road and at the ash tray, I would also be making sure that I put it out which is another distraction, lighting it is a distraction too but more importantly and the reason for hands free on telephones is that you should have 2 hands on the wheel.
(This is my opinion by the way - not angling for an argument here, was just wondering if there had been any legal mutterings. I am a fan of less bans, not more)
If you had never smoked in a car before and this was your first I would be inclined to agree with you.
However most smokers have smoked literally thousands of times before and are well versed on lighting, flicking, disposing etc etc.
Its a non-problem at the very best...
think he just likes that smiley!
the main difference, IMO, and the reason it's right to ban mobile phone use and not smoking is that....
whatever you're doing on your own in your car (smoking, changing CDs etc..), you choose the timing for the complex bits (lighting it for example)...dependant on the driving bit. The phone issue isn't 'hand off wheel' as much as the fact that the person on the other end of the phone ISNT sharing your journey - and therefore the interesting bits may fall at a time when the driving needs greater levels of concentration than others...and it isn't at your discretion.... obviously a capable human can manage to do the two at once (I genuinely believe I could use a mobile and drive at the same time and wouldnt be more of a risk)...but rules are for the lowest commen denominator and some of those cant drive a car at the best of times!
the main difference, IMO, and the reason it's right to ban mobile phone use and not smoking is that....
whatever you're doing on your own in your car (smoking, changing CDs etc..), you choose the timing for the complex bits (lighting it for example)...dependant on the driving bit. The phone issue isn't 'hand off wheel' as much as the fact that the person on the other end of the phone ISNT sharing your journey - and therefore the interesting bits may fall at a time when the driving needs greater levels of concentration than others...and it isn't at your discretion.... obviously a capable human can manage to do the two at once (I genuinely believe I could use a mobile and drive at the same time and wouldnt be more of a risk)...but rules are for the lowest commen denominator and some of those cant drive a car at the best of times!
Ban the Bans
los Angeles said:
Smoking over here is usually carried out with the fag hand trailing out the driver window so warm is the weather.
Speaking personally as a non-smoker - just the rare cigar al fresco - I will not buy a pre-owned car if the ashtray is used. First thing I do is check it. You simply cannot rid the trim of its acrid smell or nicotine stain. So, for me, the car loses it value. (My Griffith has no ashtray.) I wonder who else feels similarly?
I quite agree with you.
I have never been a smoker, and many years ago after rebuilding a 3.8 Jaguar and putting in a new headlining I said it was henceforth to be a 'no smoking' car.
Mentioning this to a work colleague he informed me that this was not a good enough reason for wanting to avoid having people smoking in the car. Cheek!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
I quite agree with you.
I have never been a smoker, and many years ago after rebuilding a 3.8 Jaguar and putting in a new headlining I said it was henceforth to be a 'no smoking' car.
Mentioning this to a work colleague he informed me that this was not a good enough reason for wanting to avoid having people smoking in the car. Cheek!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I take it he used the two-footed horse to get home that night?
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