Smoking to be made illegal while driving??

Antomus Prime

Did anyone else hear about this on the news this morning? Aparently the government are trying to illegalise smoking while driving because thay said its a distraction........... In other words it's just another reason for fining people!!!

Thoughts on this???

Midnight_EG

It's bollox without proof.

MagicMarker

They should outlaw blinking while driving too.

kfallon

No it's just females smoking their partner's 'pipe' while driving thats outlawed

senordingdong

Not in favour of it personally, but if operating a phone can be deemed a hazardous distraction, then surely smoking must be too.

Along with listening to the radio.

ScumLord

More distractions from doing something useful.

MickShamrock

I don't even smoke, and I think this is bull****.

ScumLord

senordingdong wrote: »

Not in favour of it personally, but if operating a phone can be deemed a hazardous distraction, then surely smoking must be too.

Along with listening to the radio.

You don't have to punch numbers into a cigarette to use it. It's also a habit so you barely need to think about it.

Antomus Prime

It really is Bull****. If anything it will make drivers (who smoke) more stressed behind the wheel, I get road rage from time to time and not being allowed to smoke will just P**s me off even more!!

po0k

But if they ban it, how will I look cool whilst driving?

MMD

Quick, someone call Denis Leary....

This has to be a wind-up

rubadub

I am shocked it has taken so long. Phones are banned, I have heard of people fined for eating an apple or bar in a car while driving. Fundamentally speaking you are holding a lit object in your hand, if I was driving along with a lit candle or those car cigarette lighters I would expect a garda to say something.

I have seen a mate drop a cigarette in a car onto their lap and have to brush it off, if this was a bar or phone dropped it is far less of a distraction.

Antomus Prime

rubadub wrote: »

I am shocked it has taken so long. Phones are banned, I have heard of people fined for eating an apple or bar in a car while driving. Fundamentally speaking you are holding a lit object in your hand, if I was driving along with a lit candle or those car cigarette lighters I would expect a garda to say something.

I have seen a mate drop a cigarette in a car onto their lap and have to brush it off, if this was a bar or phone dropped it is far less of a distraction.

Then dont drop it...... lol

mal1

senordingdong wrote: »

Not in favour of it personally, but if operating a phone can be deemed a hazardous distraction, then surely smoking must be too.

Along with listening to the radio.

I concur. One positive side is that it might reduce littering. Smokers are a wild messy lot. Always throwing fags out the window.

And in fairness, if you don't mind smelling like a chimney then you're probably not a careful driver...so how about we ban smokers and not smoking.

ScumLord

rubadub wrote: »

I am shocked it has taken so long. Phones are banned, I have heard of people fined for eating an apple or bar in a car while driving. Fundamentally speaking you are holding a lit object in your hand, if I was driving along with a lit candle or those car cigarette lighters I would expect a garda to say something.

A candle is ten times the size of a cigarette and doesn't relieve stress like a cigarette does. All you'll be doing is encouraging nicotine addicts to drive faster so they can have a ciggy at the end of they're journey.

kfallon

anthonyk.is wrote: »

It really is Bull****. If anything it will make drivers (who smoke) more stressed behind the wheel, I get road rage from time to time and not being allowed to smoke will just P**s me off even more!!

From reading above I reckon you get Boards rage too.....

Genghiz Cohen

mal1 wrote: »

I concur. One positive side is that it might reduce littering. Smokers are a wild messy lot. Always throwing fags out the window.

And in fairness, if you don't mind smelling like a chimney then you're probably not a careful driver...so how about we ban smokers and not smoking.

That some sized brush you got there.

reeta

ScumLord wrote: »

You don't have to punch numbers into a cigarette to use it. It's also a habit so you barely need to think about it.

When I use to smoke while driving the amount of times I nearly caused
an accident by either dropping ash or the cigarrette, it can be quite
dangerous to smoke while driving, think it is great that this will happen !!

Well, after seing someone zigzaging along the road while trying to retrieve the fags and a lighter out of their pocket and light up, all I can say is, about time too.

You can't do anything else while driving so why should smoking be exempt!

Anyway, it'll make secondhand cars cleaner, secondhand cars full of secondhand smoke really stink!

Antomus Prime

ScumLord wrote: »

A candle is ten times the size of a cigarette and doesn't relieve stress like a cigarette does. All you'll be doing is encouraging nicotine addicts to drive faster so they can have a ciggy at the end of they're journey.

Good point, have you ever been in a car when the driver really needs to use the bog???

dilallio

There are existing laws which can be used against drivers who 'zig-zag' all over the road.
No need for another law.

moco

Smoking when driving is definitely a distraction, same as changing the radio station or a CD.

Pherekydes

Argumentative kids are the biggest distraction whilst driving.

danwhite88

ScumLord wrote: »

You don't have to punch numbers into a cigarette to use it. It's also a habit so you barely need to think about it.

Texting is a habbit for me. I dont even have to think about it.

rubadub

ScumLord wrote: »

A candle is ten times the size of a cigarette

Not a small birthday cake candle! My point is that if they think phones are such a distraction then surely lit cigarettes must be too. If dropped on your lap it would obviously be a distraction, it also makes you less effects dexterity as fingers are taken up.

If smoking was only discovered today and was somehow made legal then I would still think people would say "you're mad to go around driving one of those ignited yokes in your hand."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-335291/Pipped-Woman-driver-fined-eating-apple.html

A nursery nurse who was stopped because she was holding an apple while driving was fined yesterday following a prosecution which her solicitor described as "nonsensical".

He also criticised Northumbria Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for ordering aerial photographs, a video shot from the force aircraft and a video recording from a police car be produced for the trial which lasted more than two-and-a-half hours.

But South Tyneside Magistrates ruled that Sarah McCaffery, 23, of Hebburn, was not in proper control of her Ford Ka as she negotiated a left hand turn with an apple in her right hand.

She was fined £60 and ordered to pay £100 costs at the 10th court hearing into the case which started at 8.20am on December 4 2003 when she was pulled over by traffic officer Pc Lee Butler in Monkton Lane Hebburn.

The officer, who has 10 years' experience, told the court he was sat in his stationary patrol car when he saw a woman driving with her right hand by her face and believed she may be using a mobile phone.

He stopped her and discovered she was holding an apple. He then issued her with a £30 fixed penalty ticket. He said the defendant did not say anything at the time.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-335291/Pipped-Woman-driver-fined-eating-apple.html#ixzz135dnCW8Q

Antomus Prime

moco wrote: »

Smoking when driving is definitely a distraction, same as changing the radio station or a CD.

So should radios be banned from cars then??

moco

Pherekydes wrote: »

Argumentative kids are the biggest distraction whilst driving.

Not as much as argumentative boyfriends.:mad:

ejmaztec

ScumLord wrote: »

A candle is ten times the size of a cigarette and doesn't relieve stress like a cigarette does. All you'll be doing is encouraging nicotine addicts to drive faster so they can have a ciggy at the end of they're journey.

I suppose that really depends on where you put it.:eek:

moco

anthonyk.is wrote: »

So should radios be banned from cars then??

No

Antomus Prime

moco wrote: »

No

My point exactly...

And another thing to ask is will passengers be allowed to smoke? Cause that would be even more irritating!! lol

flash1080

It makes sense.

Shenshen

anthonyk.is wrote: »

Did anyone else hear about this on the news this morning? Aparently the government are trying to illegalise smoking while driving because thay said its a distraction........... In other words it's just another reason for fining people!!!

Thoughts on this???

I think the government would be better advised to try and enforce the laws that are already in place, rather than thinking up new ones everybody will ignore just like the rest.

Antomus Prime

flash1080 wrote: »

It makes sense.

Any reason for your answer?

CreepingDeath

If part of a radio falls on to your lap, it won't burn da bollix off ya - which can be quite a distraction I imagine.

So no, you can't compare changing the radio with smoking.

Also, people who listen to the radio, don't throw out the radio on the side of the road when they're finished.

starbelgrade

They can ban it if they want. It won't stop me smoking in the car though.

paddydriver

Rumour has it the NCT boys are gonna use their windows tints measuring tool to check your driving shades aren't too dark either...

No smoking, No shades... baseball caps next

Antomus Prime

paddydriver wrote: »

Rumour has it the NCT boys are gonna use their windows tints measuring tool to check your driving shades aren't too dark either...

No smoking, No shades... baseball caps next

TBH I wouldnt be surprised, anything for the government to get more money of the average joe!!!

kiad

Just ban everyone from driving and get it over with, we all know its eventually gonna come to this

Keith186

So where are the stats for cigarettes being a factor in accidents?
Are they just basing this on annecdotal hear say that it must be a dangerous distraction because smoking kills or what?


Maybe the OP misheard this whole story. After Decembers budget you can't smoke whilst driving cos we wont be able to afford both with green carbon taxes n the like!

Sykk

I don't smoke, so it doesn't affect me.. Still think it's a load of fat donkey though.

Antomus Prime

Keith186 wrote: »

So where are the stats for cigarettes being a factor in accidents?
Are they just basing this on annecdotal hear say that it must be a dangerous distraction because smoking kills or what?


Maybe the OP misheard this whole story. After Decembers budget you can't smoke whilst driving cos we wont be able to afford both with green carbon taxes n the like!

I missed the start of the story but when i got into work a few other guys said they heard the same thing, so i satrated this thread to see if anyone had heard it too and what their thoughts on it are...

Adam

reeta wrote: »

When I use to smoke while driving the amount of times I nearly caused
an accident by either dropping ash or the cigarrette, it can be quite
dangerous to smoke while driving, think it is great that this will happen !!

i would think you would exercise common sense and just stop doing it after the first time...

moco

anthonyk.is wrote: »

My point exactly...

And another thing to ask is will passengers be allowed to smoke? Cause that would be even more irritating!! lol

I don't think either should be banned, I just think people should have a bit of cop on. Somebody I spend a lot of time in the car with will fiddle in his pockets for cigarettes/change the CD/text while hurtling down a motorway at 120kmph. Stuff shouldn't have to be made illegal for people to stop doing it.:rolleyes:

Pherekydes

moco wrote: »

Not as much as argumentative boyfriends.:mad:

I agree. I was going to add argumentative OHs. Nothing worse than being nagged whilst driving.

Antomus Prime

moco wrote: »

I don't think either should be banned, I just think people should have a bit of cop on. Somebody I spend a lot of time in the car with will fiddle in his pockets for cigarettes/change the CD/text while hurtling down a motorway at 120kmph. Stuff shouldn't have to be made illegal for people to stop doing it.:rolleyes:

Could not agree more, common sense says if you're gonna smoke while driving, take them out of your pocket before you start the drive. It's not like theres nowhere to put a box of smokes within your reach while behind the wheel (which isn't awkward to get them).

Pace2008

Is there any evidence that suggests smoking is a genuine distraction, like using a mobile phone?

If there is I have no problem with the measure, as it doesn't really detract from one's liberties. You can still drive. You can still smoke. Just not at the same time.

Overature

there trying to outlaw driving while driving aswell

flash1080

moco wrote: »

I don't think either should be banned, I just think people should have a bit of cop on. Somebody I spend a lot of time in the car with will fiddle in his pockets for cigarettes/change the CD/text while hurtling down a motorway at 120kmph. Stuff shouldn't have to be made illegal for people to stop doing it.:rolleyes:

Most people don't have the cop on to stop doing stupid things so they have to be forced to stop.

Antomus Prime

Pace2008 wrote: »

Is there any evidence that suggests smoking is a genuine distraction, like using a mobile phone?

If there is I have no problem with the measure, as it doesn't really detract from one's liberties. You can still drive. You can still smoke. Just not at the same time.

Good question, if the RSA was to release an official document that proved smoking is a distraction and causes accidents i'd take it in and prob have a different attitude, but never once have i heard of a ciggy being the cause of an accident

Antomus Prime

Overature wrote: »

there trying to outlaw driving while driving aswell

I'm tellin ya they'll prob try to outlaw talking while driving too!! Every car will have to have partitions in them so you cant interact with your passengers.

Why dont they put the focus on the real crimes that are being committed around the country, if smoking in a car is all theyre worried about then there's a serious problem!!!!!

ArmaniJeanss

Are you sure it was the 'government' suggesting this, and not just one of the mentalists from ASH or another of the anti-smoking groups?
They've been banging on about this for years.