Campaign to halt smoking in cars
The Welsh Government is launching a public education campaign to try to stop people smoking while driving with children.
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Named Fresh Start, the three-year campaign aims to educate the public about the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke on children in confined spaces such as motor vehicles.
Chief medical officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: "Exposure to these chemicals puts children at risk from a range of conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome and asthma.
"There is robust evidence that the level of toxic chemicals is very high in cars, even with a window open. The Fresh Start Wales campaign aims to make people aware that smoking in cars is dangerous for their passengers, particularly children."
And if the campaign is unsuccessful then an outright ban will be considered.
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "A ban on smoking in cars carrying children will be considered later in this five-year term of government if smoking levels do not reduce as a result of the campaign.
"We have commissioned research to measure levels of smoking in cars and public attitudes towards it, which will be revisited throughout the campaign to evaluate its success."
Simon Clark from tobacco lobby group Forest was in favour of the campaign, saying: "I disagree that they're poisoning children but I support the campaign.
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Named Fresh Start, the three-year campaign aims to educate the public about the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke on children in confined spaces such as motor vehicles.
Chief medical officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: "Exposure to these chemicals puts children at risk from a range of conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome and asthma.
"There is robust evidence that the level of toxic chemicals is very high in cars, even with a window open. The Fresh Start Wales campaign aims to make people aware that smoking in cars is dangerous for their passengers, particularly children."
And if the campaign is unsuccessful then an outright ban will be considered.
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "A ban on smoking in cars carrying children will be considered later in this five-year term of government if smoking levels do not reduce as a result of the campaign.
"We have commissioned research to measure levels of smoking in cars and public attitudes towards it, which will be revisited throughout the campaign to evaluate its success."
Simon Clark from tobacco lobby group Forest was in favour of the campaign, saying: "I disagree that they're poisoning children but I support the campaign.
"I think it's important to encourage parents not to smoke in a car where small children are present out of consideration for the child if nothing else."
But he said he was opposed to a ban, continuing: "We think that would be a step too far and totally unnecessary.
"And I think it's outrageous at the way they're treating smokers considering there are 10m smokers throughout the United Kingdom who contribute a massive amount to tobacco taxation - over £10bn a year."
What do you reckon? Leave your comments below...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
I Elliot said 8:08AM on 2-06-2012
I have never been a smoker but I think it is ridiculous about trying to stop smoking in your own car next they will be wanting to stop smoking in your own home.
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Prof Uri said 10:51AM on 2-06-2012
Makes me laugh how every time anyone criticizes smokers some idiot whines about how much they contribute in tax? They don't smoke to help contribute tax! They smoke because they are too weak willed and selfish to give up. What about defending all the alcoholics who contribute to the national budget with their daily booze fix? Gawd bless those selfless, unsung heroic alcoholics... drinking themselves to death for the nation's sake.
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james1953 said 9:42AM on 2-06-2012
I smoke and am not weak willed, if I wished to stop I would.
I don't smoke near others if they dislike it.
I smoke proper tobacco and filtered and thanks to Belgium for the £3.00 for 50 gramme packs I enjoy.
As for the passive threat,this nonsense came from Roy Castles widow on a mission,there is no factual basis as yet that passive smoke harms.
As for my health,my oxygen level in blood is that of an athlete,and remember,millions smoke,and millions of non smokers get the cancers too.
So grow up and argue factually.
ringpull said 8:32AM on 2-08-2012
Prof uri please tell me what it feels like to be as righteous as you are i would like to be like you but wait i cant i have feelings it is not nice to see people suffer from such thing's as alcoholism - depression - drug addiction and the list can go on it is not there fault circumstance has lead them down that path still it is good to know that you are a paragon that we underlings can look up to. ( ALL HAIL TO THE GREAT PROF URI )
roger said 7:51AM on 2-07-2012
yes they should the cars with ash trays are always on the left of the steering whell while most people smoke with the right hand so to use the tray they must cross arms over which is dangerous , or throw it out of the window 99% do that anyway and thats illegal aswell
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jack2649 said 8:55AM on 2-06-2012
Yes you are dead right they should put them on the right, I am always making a mess when I try to flick the ash into the ash tray
terryg89 said 8:25AM on 2-06-2012
No they should not be told, they should be made to,put your hands up how many people have tried to take a cig out of thier mouth and its stuck to to your lips whilst driving.
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james1953 said 12:58PM on 2-06-2012
or throwing it out of a window thinking it's open, that's edge dweling,rapped knuckles and a burn.....haha....or my favourite....it blowsback in and starts smouldering on a rear seat,thats quite exciting at speed on a motorway....
Ronald Hunt said 2:21PM on 2-06-2012
It is more dangerous that using a mobile ! How many smokers can honestly deny dropping a lite cigarette onto their lap?
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stellarider said 8:34AM on 2-06-2012
Big brother is watching you.
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Jon M said 8:37AM on 2-06-2012
I grew up in a smoking household and when I entered my teens I began to smoke. Several years later I 'saw the light' in the sense that I realised just how inconsiderate it was to poison others, as well as ones self. I have seen countless drivers who smoke while their young are in the car and it has made me wonder how long it would be before this practice was outlawed.
Smokers who argue that their 'civil rights' are being infringed should wake-up, smell some fresh air, realise just how much their car, home, clothes stink, yes stink.
Smokers, educate yourselves and stub-out TODAY!
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harry 123 said 8:48AM on 2-06-2012
We are still on the smoking wagon, with alcohol next on the agenda, however the wind up regarding fattening foods is ever increasing. How about stopping all the ads on TV for Bingo and gambling. How addictive is that. How many families will suffer because of that? It's like a plague.
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peter cc said 5:07AM on 2-07-2012
Maybe they should, but how would you enforce it?, would the Police have time to stop every other car?,no,it's impossible to enforce.
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hugh davies said 8:58AM on 2-06-2012
if smoking is so bad for you, why don't they stop making cigarettes altogether. then nobody will be able to affect other peoples health. of course the government would lose to much money that way wouldn't they!!
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terryg89 said 9:03AM on 2-06-2012
As they say,if smokings bad for you, why does it cure kippers.
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r,salt said 9:28AM on 2-06-2012
never smoked in my life but this i think is going to far big brother is getting bigger
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Charles said 9:46AM on 2-06-2012
Over the last few decades the smoking rate has halved while the asthma rate has increased threefold.
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SUNOAK said 12:42PM on 2-06-2012
There is no argument, from a safety aspect, smoking in cars should be banned, there is no difference between holding a lighted cigarette or using a mobile phone, in fact I would say that holding a lighted cigarette is more dangerous for obvious reasons, and you should never smoke when carrying children, nothing to do with Big Brother, more a case of common sense..
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Sarah said 10:01AM on 2-06-2012
I smoke while I am driving, but would never consider doing it with a child in the car. I agree that people shouldn't smoke around children, but it is pointless making it illegal. The odds are, (& I don't intend to generalise) that if someone smokes in a car with a child ,they will also smoke at home with them. There is also a fair chance that if they are female they also smoked during pregnancy. Why spend all this money on passing a law when these children will continue to passive smoke everywhere else?
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Val said 11:23AM on 2-06-2012
Surely smoking whilst driving is similar to using a mobile phone or eating a sandwich. You cannot be in full control of the vehicle whilst doing any of these things.
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