British Medical Association Calls for Smoking Ban In Cars

An experiment conducted by Dr. James Cant of British Lung foundation, has shown that the toxins in car (with closed windows) filled with cigarette smoke are 11 times higher than that in a smoky bar.

Smoking has already been banned in work vehicles like taxis, but as yet no parts of UK have banned it in private cars.

The move, according to All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health, could be “counterproductive” ; it feels that educational campaigns would achieve more by raising awareness about the dangers.

Ministers in Northern Ireland are consulting over the issue while in Wales, a public awareness campaign, warning people about the dangers in smoking in cars, is already in effect. If it does not become effective over the next three years, a ban would be called for. As far as England and Scotland are concerned, there has been no legislation introduced yet.

The BMA believe that this strong action is needed to protect children from dangers of second hand smoke. The young are particularly vulnerable and can end up absorbing more pollutants from second hand smoke due to their lower immunity. Research has also shown increase in conditions like impaired lung function, sudden infant death syndrome and asthma due to second hand smoke inhalation.

Some states in Canada, US and Australia have already introduced the legislation but the focus is more on stopping smoking when children are present.