Driving whilst smoking should be banned say motorists

A survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists finds the majority of motorists in favour of banning smoking for drivers.

We live in a Nanny State, and a Nanny State revels in banning us from simple pleasures. Like smoking.

Smoking is bad for you, it’s bad for those around you, it costs a fortune and makes you smell. But it’s legal. And if it’s legal shouldn’t we be allowed to decide when and where we smoke?

The pub industry has been decimated by the smoking ban and now the Nannies want a ban on smoking in cars.

Ireland already has legislation in the pipeline to ban smoking in cars with children as passengers (which should become law in the summer) and it’s almost inevitable we will follow suit in the UK.

So the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) decided they ought to ask motorists what they think as this is a topic that will get more publicity as Ireland imposes a partial ban this year, and a majority (56 per cent) thought a ban on smoking when driving was a good idea.

The IAM’s survey discovered motorists thought smoking and driving was irresponsible (48 per cent), as dangerous as using a mobile (46 per cent) and just plain dangerous (43 per cent).

IAM boss Simon Best said:

Smoking is clearly seen as a serious issue by motorists and highlights the impact of distractions in the car.

The health benefits may be clear but more research needs to be done to determine whether there are actual road safety grounds to act on these concerns by banning smoking and driving altogether.

But the survey is no surprise, and seems to split between smokers and non-smokers. Around 20 per cent of the UK population smokes, so it seems those calling for a ban are those that don’t smoke – but not all of them by a long way.

But do we really want nicotine addicts deprived of their fix whilst behind the wheel of a car? Sounds like a recipe for an awful lot of road rage, and an excuse for more on-the-spot fines.