Skip advert
Advertisement

Fewer children exposed to cigarette smoke following in-car smoking ban

Smoking in the car with children was banned in 2015; research shows this has led to a 4.1% decrease in children exposed to cigarette smoke

Smoking in cars

Four per cent less children are being exposed to cigarette smoke following the introduction of a ban on smoking in the car with children.

In 2015, the Government banned drivers in England and Wales from smoking in the car when any of their passengers are under the age of 18; Scotland adopted the same rules the following year. Now, new research suggests this has led to a 4.1 per cent decrease in the reported number of children exposed to cigarette smoke.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Smoking could knock £2,000 off your car's value

The law only applies to private vehicles enclosed wholly or partly by a roof; convertibles with the roof down do not count. It is an offence for drivers - including those on provisional licences - not to stop any other occupants of their vehicle from smoking if a minor is present. The penalty for breaching the rules is a £50 fine. The ban does not apply to e-cigarettes.

Imperial College London analysed 16,000 responses from two large health surveys of school-aged children in England and Scotland. These surveys relied on children self-reporting what they were exposed to by asking them questions such as: “In the past year, how often were you in a car with somebody smoking?”

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The results showed an overall downward trend in the proportion of children aged between 13 and 15 who reported being exposed to cigarette smoke.

Dr Anthony Laverty, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: “Like the smoking ban introduced to pubs and restaurants, banning smoking in cars increasingly ‘denormalises’ the act of smoking for children.

“This has a dual effect, not only reducing the amount of second-hand smoke they are exposed to, but also reducing the amount of smoking they see. Given how vulnerable children are to second-hand smoke, reducing their exposure to cigarette smoke will likely result in improved health.”

Dr Nick Hopkinson, from Imperial’s National Heart and Lung Institute, added: “We know that smoking in enclosed spaces, such as a car, can be harmful to the health of others - particularly children, who may be more susceptible to respiratory conditions.

“But, there is also an association with smoking uptake to take into account. If children see people smoking around them, they are far more likely to take up the habit themselves. Our study shows that policies such as a public ban on smoking in cars help to break that cycle and help to reduce the harms associated with tobacco.”

Will the ban on smoking in cars with children affect you? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives
Kia's UK boss, Paul Philpott standing next to a Kia EV6

Kia UK boss calls for clear ZEV roadmap, plus “modest” consumer incentives

Brand CEO says ZEV mandate is a threat, asking for clarity from the Labour government
News
6 Jan 2025
Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants
Finance contract, car key and calculator on desk

Car finance scandal: Supreme Court hearing could halve number of claimants

Scandal involving car finance commission could see motorists entitled to billions of pounds in payouts
News
19 Dec 2024
Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns
Emissions tests questioned

Dieselgate is back! Thousands of cars could be recalled as scandal returns

The DfT is currently investigating as many as 47 models across several brands that are suspected to use diesel defeat devices
News
14 Nov 2024
MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars
MOT

MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars

More than a third of light commercials failed their first MoT last year, new figures show
News
12 Nov 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: High-spec Nissan Qashqai for £191 a month is a steal
Nissan Qashqai - front cornering right

Car Deal of the Day: High-spec Nissan Qashqai for £191 a month is a steal

The Nissan Qashqai is a family favourite, with plenty of style and kerb appeal. It’s our Deal of the Day for 13 February
News
13 Feb 2025
New Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2025 review: makes 7-seater SUVs feel cramped
Volkswagen Transporter e-Shuttle - front

New Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2025 review: makes 7-seater SUVs feel cramped

The Ford-based Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle is refined, good to drive and has plenty of space in all three rows
Road tests
14 Feb 2025
New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts