Call to ban smokers from 'lighting up behind the wheel' » Communities » 24dash.com

Proposals to ban smokers from lighting up behind the wheel have met with a mixed response from smoking and driving groups.

The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) is calling on the Government to introduced a ban on smoking while driving to reduce the number of road accidents.

It claims drivers put their own lives and those of their passengers at risk when they take their hands off the wheel to light a cigarette, or when ash falls in the vehicle.

Spokesman Simon Ettinghausen said: "Anything you do in the car is a distraction, whether it's eating, drinking, using a mobile phone or smoking. But smoking in particular can be very dangerous.

"You're basically playing with fire while driving. If you drop a lit cigarette your concentration on driving will immediately vanish.

"You're not allowed to use a hand-held mobile phone anymore. That shows how important it is not to do anything distracting while driving."

He added that more motorists might be tempted to light up in their vehicles, once the ban on smoking in enclosed public places comes into force in July.

Mr Ettinghausen said: "With the smoking ban coming in it is becoming more and more restricted. People will take more and more opportunities to smoke in different places."

The proposal was supported by campaign group Action on Smoking and Health.

Spokeswoman Amanda Sandford said: "The idea is that the motor organisation is doing it on safety grounds, which we fully support.

"We do believe smoking while driving can be distracting and make it more dangerous.

"We are also concerned about the health issue and the effect of passive smoking on passengers."

But Hugh Bladon of the Association of British Drivers (ABD) dismissed the idea as "absurd".

He said: "What are they going to ban next?

"We've got a 'ban it' mentality in this country. I personally don't think the ABD will want to know about banning smoking."

LARSOA, which represents road safety officers in local government said today it will meet Government officials in the coming weeks to discuss the issue.

A Department for Transport spokesman said today the Government had no plans to introduce such a ban.

Smoking while driving has recently been listed as a distraction in the Highway Code.

Copyright Press Association 2007

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