02/06/2015

Welsh Government To Vote On Smoking Ban In Cars

A vote is to take place in the Welsh Assembly today on banning people from smoking in cars when children are present.

If approved, the ban would come into effect on 1 October, 2015, with a similar ban in England also being enforced on the same day.

In 2007, legislation was passed in Wales to make smoking in enclosed public places illegal. It was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and while the legislation also covers public and work vehicles, it doesn't extend to private vehicles.

However, the new regulations will make it an offence to smoke in an enclosed private vehicle when more than one person is present, at least one of whom is under the age of 18, and for a driver to fail to prevent smoking in such circumstances. Offenders will face a fixed penalty notice of £50 for each offence.

Mark Drakeford, Health and Social Services Minister, said: "Some people believe that opening the window of a car will help disperse smoke but in reality it simply blows back in. It causes a real and substantial threat to children's health.

"Children cannot escape from the toxic chemicals contained in second-hand smoke when travelling in cars. They often don't have a choice over whether or not they travel in cars and may not feel able to ask an adult to stop smoking.

"If passed by AMs today, the regulations will introduce a ban to protect children under 18 from the harms associated with second-hand smoke when travelling in private vehicles.

"As with the existing smoke-free regulations, success will not be based on the number of enforcement actions that are taken but by how behaviour, attitudes and health outcomes change over time."

(JP)

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