Smoking to be banned in cars carrying children

The government is continuing to crack down on the effects of passive smoking, with a ban on smoking in cars carrying children potentially coming into effect in the Autumn.

Under the new law, private vehicles carrying under-18s must remain smoke free in order to protect young people from the harmful effects of tobacco.

Health minister Jane Ellison said: "Second-hand smoke is a real threat to children's health and we want them to grow up free from the risks of smoking. Anyone found smoking in a car containing children, or failing to prevent smoking in a car containing children, will be given a fine of £50

The issue is set to be voted on in the House of Commons before May’s general election, with the proposal becoming law on October 1st if passed. 

Health minister Jane Ellison said "The only effective way to protect children is to prevent them breathing secondhand smoke and our plans to stop smoking in cars carrying children will help us to do this."

The British Lung Foundation estimates that 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in their family car every week and Dr Penny Woods, the charity's chief executive, said she was "delighted" by the Government's proposals.

She said: "We are now closer than ever to helping protect the hundreds of thousands of children exposed to dangerous concentrations of second-hand smoke in cars every week."

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