Should smoking in a car while a child is in it be banned?

Octoman · June 17th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Call to ban child-in-car smoking

Child seat-belts in cars are law - should a smoking ban be added?
Adults should be banned from smoking in cars when children are passengers, the new head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said.

In a BBC News website Scrubbing Up column, Professor Terence Stephenson, said children deserved protection.

"You can't inflict this on your colleagues any more. Why should we treat our children's health as a lower priority?" he said.

A Department of Health spokesman said it would review smoking laws next year.

Professor Stephenson, who recently took over as head of the college, said children should not have to breathe in their parents' cigarette smoke.

"Why on earth would you light up in your car whilst your children are sitting happily in the back?

"On the assumption that you wouldn't pass the packet round and invite the kids to light up, why make them breathe tobacco smoke at all?"

He said the Canadian province of New Brunswick, California, South Australia and Cyprus had already introduced such legislation successfully.

And Professor Stephenson said second-hand smoke had been linked to chest infections, asthma and ear problems in children.

'Impractical suggestion'

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), backed a complete ban on smoking in vehicles.

"Cars are small tin boxes, with not much air in them.

"Smoking just one cigarette, even with the window open, creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening's smoking in a pub or a bar.

"That's not just bad for children but for adults too, especially those who already have heart or lung diseases."

And a spokeswoman for the road safety charity, Brake, said smoking while driving meant people were not concentrating on the road.

"All that can add up to not having proper control of your vehicle or dangerous driving."

She said it might be useful to have a law banning smoking in the same way there was in force regarding using hand-held mobile phones.

But Neil Rafferty, Scottish spokesman for Forest, the pro-smokers' rights group, said: "We don't think that children should be exposed to smoke in a car but a ban would be a waste of police and court time.

"Would it be OK if you opened the sunroof or a window while smoking? It's an impractical suggestion.

"People like those at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health should be more realistic about what is possible."

A Department of Health spokesman said it would look at whether current anti-smoking laws needed to be extended.

He added: "We would always strongly recommend that people do not smoke in cars, especially those used to transport children."

Jonny 5 · June 17th, 2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

"Cars are small tin boxes, with not much air in them.

"Smoking just one cigarette, even with the window open, creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening's smoking in a pub or a bar.

You can't smoke in a pub or bar anymore...

Why not ban all smoking around anyone under the age of 16?
Seems a bit silly to just limit it to car journeys.

Isaac Newell · June 17th, 2009, 05:35 PM

It should be discouraged rather than banned. Frowned upon, like smoking when pregnant, which is not banned.

The police are there to catch criminals not to police our lifestyle.

london-b · June 17th, 2009, 05:35 PM

I think there are major flaws in society when you need a law to get some basic morality like this.

Madchester Guy · June 17th, 2009, 05:36 PM

My mum smoked all the time in the car when I was a kid, it's awful.

london-b · June 17th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madchester Guy

My mum smoked all the time in the car when I was a kid, it's awful.

Bitch!

Madchester Guy · June 17th, 2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by london-b

Bitch!

She doesn't do it anymore now. Thankfully I have no desire whatsoever to take up smoking.

Molly · June 17th, 2009, 06:23 PM

No. I think adults need to be treated as adults. They have kids it is up to them how they bring up those children.

We live in a society that can't even police parents to stop very serious cases of child abuse and need to get our priorities right and stop serious neglect and abuse of children first before moving onto criminalising something like smoking. This is a more matter for offering better education and encouraging wiser choices.

The government wants too much control over children but they do not adequately support or encourage families. So they have no right to dictate what parents do.

CharlieP · June 17th, 2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molly

No. I think adults need to be treated as adults. They have kids it is up to them how they bring up those children.

Sadly though, a lot of adults don't know how to behave like adults. And as a result their children are often brought up tragically badly.

Noostairz · June 17th, 2009, 06:31 PM

children should be banned.

CharlieP · June 17th, 2009, 06:33 PM

Well, yeah.

mexico86 · June 17th, 2009, 06:41 PM

smoking near children should be banned.

london-b · June 17th, 2009, 06:42 PM

Smoking children should be banned.

CharlieP · June 17th, 2009, 07:02 PM

Children should be smoked.

Molly · June 17th, 2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieP

Sadly though, a lot of adults don't know how to behave like adults. And as a result their children are often brought up tragically badly.

and you think that who people are can be changed by passing laws?

and we have police to enforce this? When they can't even fully prevent serious abuse of children who are listed as at risk, let alone all the unknown cases. lol.

And also some people behave badly if they do not smoke and they get stressed and act and behave in a way that would cause more harm to their children - so if the people are not interested in looking after the health of their kids then there really is nothing you can do.

crazyevildude · June 17th, 2009, 10:55 PM

People need to go under some sort of test before being allowed to breed. Anyone who would smoke with a child in their car would clearly fail this test, problem solved.

Tony Sebo · June 17th, 2009, 10:59 PM

Not really. I actually supported and lobbied for an early ban in Liverpool, before the governmnt intoroduced the national smoking ban. The whole passive smoking toxic death campaign is a fascist drive based on lies, intended to bring in a ban on tobacco.

If cigarette smoke was as toxic as the health experts are claiming actual smokers would snuff it after three drags.

Octoman · June 17th, 2009, 11:05 PM

I see it as an incremental step towards a full ban. A car is a private space. if this gets through then it becomes logical to argue for a ban in a private home if children live there. Its how the whole anti smoking lobby works. Step by step.

***gothicform*** · June 17th, 2009, 11:05 PM

fact, car exhaust fumes have a fatality rate of three times that of smoking. fact, more kids die in car crashes every year than from passive smoking.

Nathan Dawz · June 17th, 2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Sebo

Not really. I actually supported and lobbied for an early ban in Liverpool, before the governmnt intoroduced the national smoking ban. The whole passive smoking toxic death campaign is a fascist drive based on lies, intended to bring in a ban on tobacco.

If cigarette smoke was as toxic as the health experts are claiming actual smokers would snuff it after three drags.

Whoops, made a mistake there Tony. You didn't mention how it's all a big EU conspiracy against smokers!

For what it's worth, I'd support such a ban. Why should children have to pay for their parents' dirty habits?

June 17th, 2009, 05:24 PM	#1
Octoman Boo! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 20,681 Likes (Received): 470	Should smoking in a car while a child is in it be banned? Call to ban child-in-car smoking Child seat-belts in cars are law - should a smoking ban be added? Adults should be banned from smoking in cars when children are passengers, the new head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said. In a BBC News website Scrubbing Up column, Professor Terence Stephenson, said children deserved protection. "You can't inflict this on your colleagues any more. Why should we treat our children's health as a lower priority?" he said. A Department of Health spokesman said it would review smoking laws next year. Professor Stephenson, who recently took over as head of the college, said children should not have to breathe in their parents' cigarette smoke. "Why on earth would you light up in your car whilst your children are sitting happily in the back? "On the assumption that you wouldn't pass the packet round and invite the kids to light up, why make them breathe tobacco smoke at all?" He said the Canadian province of New Brunswick, California, South Australia and Cyprus had already introduced such legislation successfully. And Professor Stephenson said second-hand smoke had been linked to chest infections, asthma and ear problems in children. 'Impractical suggestion' Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), backed a complete ban on smoking in vehicles. "Cars are small tin boxes, with not much air in them. "Smoking just one cigarette, even with the window open, creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening's smoking in a pub or a bar. "That's not just bad for children but for adults too, especially those who already have heart or lung diseases." And a spokeswoman for the road safety charity, Brake, said smoking while driving meant people were not concentrating on the road. "All that can add up to not having proper control of your vehicle or dangerous driving." She said it might be useful to have a law banning smoking in the same way there was in force regarding using hand-held mobile phones. But Neil Rafferty, Scottish spokesman for Forest, the pro-smokers' rights group, said: "We don't think that children should be exposed to smoke in a car but a ban would be a waste of police and court time. "Would it be OK if you opened the sunroof or a window while smoking? It's an impractical suggestion. "People like those at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health should be more realistic about what is possible." A Department of Health spokesman said it would look at whether current anti-smoking laws needed to be extended. He added: "We would always strongly recommend that people do not smoke in cars, especially those used to transport children."

June 17th, 2009, 06:23 PM	#8
Molly ( rolling pin ) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Leeds, Yorkshire Posts: 2,013 Likes (Received): 0	No. I think adults need to be treated as adults. They have kids it is up to them how they bring up those children. We live in a society that can't even police parents to stop very serious cases of child abuse and need to get our priorities right and stop serious neglect and abuse of children first before moving onto criminalising something like smoking. This is a more matter for offering better education and encouraging wiser choices. The government wants too much control over children but they do not adequately support or encourage families. So they have no right to dictate what parents do. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies… Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

June 17th, 2009, 06:33 PM	#11
CharlieP Prepare to die. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wakefield, Little Satan Posts: 21,061 Likes (Received): 215	Well, yeah. __________________ This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

June 17th, 2009, 06:41 PM	#12
mexico86 외국인 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,952 Likes (Received): 144	smoking near children should be banned. __________________ - We are in the age of 'unenlightenment'. Charlie Brooker. - Nowhere in the bible does it state Jesus was not a cat.

June 17th, 2009, 07:02 PM	#14
CharlieP Prepare to die. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wakefield, Little Satan Posts: 21,061 Likes (Received): 215	Children should be smoked. __________________ This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

June 17th, 2009, 05:35 PM	#3
Isaac Newell Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 12,895 Likes (Received): 6	It should be discouraged rather than banned. Frowned upon, like smoking when pregnant, which is not banned. The police are there to catch criminals not to police our lifestyle.

June 17th, 2009, 05:35 PM	#4
london-b βAŇŇĘÐ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ma chambre Posts: 7,537 Likes (Received): 145	I think there are major flaws in society when you need a law to get some basic morality like this.

June 17th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#5
Madchester Guy ... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Get up, go to work, play the game, kiss Gaz, have a shower, go home. No fuss. Posts: 1,565 Likes (Received): 0	My mum smoked all the time in the car when I was a kid, it's awful.

June 17th, 2009, 06:31 PM	#10
Noostairz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Transatlantic Posts: 10,012 Likes (Received): 1	children should be banned.

June 17th, 2009, 06:42 PM	#13
london-b βAŇŇĘÐ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ma chambre Posts: 7,537 Likes (Received): 145	Smoking children should be banned.

June 17th, 2009, 10:55 PM	#16
crazyevildude Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cardiff Posts: 1,151 Likes (Received): 14	People need to go under some sort of test before being allowed to breed. Anyone who would smoke with a child in their car would clearly fail this test, problem solved.

June 17th, 2009, 10:59 PM	#17
Tony Sebo BANNED Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 18,306 Likes (Received): 4	Not really. I actually supported and lobbied for an early ban in Liverpool, before the governmnt intoroduced the national smoking ban. The whole passive smoking toxic death campaign is a fascist drive based on lies, intended to bring in a ban on tobacco. If cigarette smoke was as toxic as the health experts are claiming actual smokers would snuff it after three drags.

June 17th, 2009, 11:05 PM	#18
Octoman Boo! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 20,681 Likes (Received): 470	I see it as an incremental step towards a full ban. A car is a private space. if this gets through then it becomes logical to argue for a ban in a private home if children live there. Its how the whole anti smoking lobby works. Step by step.

June 17th, 2009, 11:05 PM	#19
*gothicform* Bossman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: not london Posts: 29,143 Likes (Received): 480	fact, car exhaust fumes have a fatality rate of three times that of smoking. fact, more kids die in car crashes every year than from passive smoking.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode