Illegal to smoke whilst driving.............?

Marky

Its NOT illegal to drive whilst smoking.

However, if the police feel that you are driving dangerously whilst smoking (ie using both hands to light it, or not paying attention to the road) then you can be stopped.

This is nothing new, people have been stopped for eating a apple before now.

People die every day becuase of careless drivers, and I often see smokers light up with both hands, and also saw someone swerve across the road becuase some ash dropped into his lap and he freaked.

mark

It's not illegal to smoke whilst driving.

It is illegal to drive without paying 'Due care and attention', and recent recommendations from the Crown Prosecution Service have suggested that smoking (in the same way as eating or drinking, or playing with your phone), could possibly constitute driving without due care and attention.

jamand

It isn't law - it is advisory!

They have put it in as a note of caution - i.e. if you are driving along and lighting a f ag - you are not in control of the car as your eyes will be off the road momentarily and your hand would be holding a lighter.

They could do you for lots of these types of things if they wanted to - hell, they can't even be bothered to stop motorists using their phones when driving - smoking at the wheel is bottom of the pile

Jerry C

*shrug* Its just another way for them to take away your individualism.

SweetPea

Not in america

scott_v1963

Communists. There is no compromise. It is all or none. I'm done being considerate of the non-smoker. While I won't break laws, I also won't turn my head when I exhale. I won't stand further from a building entrance. I won't hold my smoke away from the fan. I won't ask, "do you mind if I smoke?". I will not step outside when allowed to smoke inside. And most importantly, I will not move away from non-smokers when they pass, or are seated near the bar.

I guess thats all I got to say.

Lou

That bites. Where do u live? Cause here in Texas that has not happened. If it does i'd do the same as u lol

vagabondxanarch

I think the law is that you aren't allowed to smoke in your car if you are riding with a minor.
If in fact you are not allowed to smoke in your car period I want to know how in the F*ck that law got passed, it's a total invasion of human rights.

Vivi

It's not illegal, it's down to the copper's discretion weather he thinks you are driving without due care and attention or not. But I've said this before, when the figures look bad and the pressure is put on police officers by "the powers that be". They will pull over smokers and hand out fines just to make the numbers look better.

Bardic

No, I can't believe a stupid law has now been introduced to stop you smoking whilst driving your own car. Principally because it hasn't.

All that's happened is that the latest version of the Highway Code now mentions it as a distraction. It always was, and you always could find it counting against you in the event of an accident, being considered as not being in proper control of your vehicle. Just like that woman, I believe it was, who was done for taking a swig from a bottle of water at the traffic lights - now THAT must have been a slow day!

Kemodo 344â„¢

i hear thats the next step, they are going to stop smoking in rented house.

Northern Lad

Been off the planet have we? This is OLD news.

dels replies

Not illegal but inadvisable... If you have an accident whilst smoking you might be charged with not being in control of the vehicle. Nothing to do with smoking really, It is about being in control in the car , could also refer to eating or drinking whilst driving.. and certainly not on the phone... Also altering radio stations, or Dvd can also distract.. The answer is to have a companion to do these tings for you, or don't do them at all.

It is not illegal................yet.

FAST&FURIOUS

so stupid i think its just the people that are high on crack that crash or piss heads not every1 in america its not illegal i think its just england or uk

Jessie H

Oh my. I have heard about this law, especially if you have children in the car. What state do you live in?

Points Grubber

I do believe that the law is that you cannot smoke(legally) in your car if you have small children with you. As far as i have heard it is not illegal to smoke when traveling by yourself. but regardless i believe that it is you car and your choice.

jude

Yeh but a drunk can still go get his alcohol, drive his car home and beat up his wife...and all's ok...., put a ciggie in his hand though and he will get arrested. British law eh.

Scarlett

Its classed as a distraction. You'd be thankful of this law if while lighting up you killed someone.

time for a change

Actually in the UK you can be stopped from smoking in your own house, especially if you rent a property, private landlords are able to state that they want no smokers!! Our Council has just told its tenants that they are not allowed to smoke in their homes if any council operatives are there, we have also been told we are not allowed to smoke on the decks outside or in stairwells as they are public areas!!!

Back to smoking in cars, yes its rediculous, but even before this came in if you crashed your car whilst lighting a cigarette you could be charged with reckless driving, but then what about if you crashed whilst putting in a cd or tape or canging the radio station.

This countries laws are becoming rediculous, I'm hoping they ban alcohol soon, no one ever raped me because they had too many cigarettes but they did when they had too much alcohol!!

Niamh

In the UK you can smoke in your car.You cannot if it is a vehicle used for business.ie;work van.

shufly

Yes, no yeah ok

allgiggles1984

im glad! it could cause accidents and kill innocent people! including little kids who tun out of nowhere!

brian777999

Actually, they have already banned smoking in many high rise apartments.You cannot smoke inside , outside or anywhere on the premises.

Dirty habit....time to give it up.

zipperfootpress

I agree with this....smoking for some causes distraction, look up stats up people who caused accidents WHILE smoking, you will be surprised at the results.

And I AM a smoker AND a driver, the number of innocent kids, adults and pets killed each year by careless driving is incredible, if this is one way to make the roads safer than so be it. WHILE you are driving the only thing that should be on your mind IS DRIVING!!

michael_3579

duh its not dumb its really smart i mean look at how many peopole do stupid stuff while drivin i meanu want them to smoke not look and then slam into u?!?!?!

Jonathan

Smoking or doing anything like that while driving is stupid, idiotic, dangerous, and totally inconsiderate. This includes reading maps, eating pies, putting on make-up, anything that distracts you from the road and means that you don't have full control of the vehicle. Why do you think parents shout at their kids to shut up in the back?

Smoking is a drug, I just don't understand what's so difficult about that to grasp! I don't want somebody who's high driving and that's all there is to it. If you drop your cigarette on your trousers because of a pot hole and it burns your leg and you crash and burn as a result, please make sure you do it away from me.

Naked Monkey - Bien Divito

Well, the message is clear....................STOP SMOKING!!!

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