By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 12 Feb 2015 • 18:13
DRIVERS in the UK will be banned from smoking in their cars if they are carrying children as passengers or face fines.
In England from October 1, it will be illegal to smoke while driving if there are children in the car. Anyone caught doing so could be fined £50 (€).
While the news has been welcomed by anti-smoking groups and the British Lung Foundation, smokers’ group Forest said that the ban will be unenforceable.
“Three million children are exposed to second hand smoke in cars, putting their health at risk,” said Public Health Minister Jane Ellison. “We know that many of them feel embarrassed or frightened to ask adults to stop smoking, which is why the regulations are an important step in protecting children from the harms of second-hand smoke.”
But Simon Clark, director of Forest, said the legislation was excessive. “The overwhelming majority of smokers know it’s inconsiderate to smoke in the car with children and they don’t do it,” he said.
“They don’t need the state micro-managing their lives. The police won’t be able to enforce the law on their own so the government will need a small army of snoopers to report people.”
Wales already has a similar ban and Scotland is said to be considering introducing a ban.
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This is perfect!!! I respect to non-smokers!!!
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