New Law Under Consideration to Ban Smoking Inside Cars with Children

The Welsh government plans to impose a strict ban on smoking while driving in a car with children.

A recent national health survey found many young children are exposed to cigarette fumes and have high risk of suffering negative health repercussions of second-hand smoking. These results alerted the Welsh government to take actions and implement policies to diseases caused by exposure to tobacco and cigarette fumes, says the  News Reports.

The research revealed one-in-every five parents blissfully smoke inside cars even while driving with children and one-in-every ten children in Wales inhale tobacco. Parents' smoking habits induce children to try out cigarettes, smoking cessation devices and nicotine products out of curiosity. Their experimentation can later translate into chronic smoking addiction.     

The study findings also suggest five percent decline in smoking rates inside cars and increased awareness on the ill-effects of passive smoking among people in the county. Almost 80 percent of the surveyed participants welcomed the idea of banning smoking inside cars.

Around nine out of 10 respondents said this ban would have effect on them.

The officials plan on introducing stringent laws and measures in case the number of people who are caught smoking inside cars in the presence of children do not reduce in three years.

Mark Drakeford, health minister said, "The research findings clearly show there is public support for not allowing smoking in cars when carrying children and that this support and awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke have increased over the last three years," reports the Wales Online.

"Although the research findings show that progress has been made in reducing children's exposure to second-hand smoke in cars, we now believe the introduction of regulations to prohibit smoking in private vehicles carrying under 18s is needed as the final piece in the jigsaw to eliminate the harm and end persistent inequalities in exposure. We will now consult on these proposals and I urge people to have their say," he adds,