Smoking whilst driving is now banned!

[Kathyan]

My neighbour is up in arms about this saying that 'they should let me smoke as I get irritable if I can't have a fag'!
I have been in the car with her when she smokes and quite honestly she cannot control the car properly when she lights up. Why are (some) smokers so inconsiderate?

[redcrx]

why cant you look at the road whilst putting a cig in ashtray?
do people look at gearstick when changing gear?
Smoking is no different to changing CD or volume of stereo. Some will divert their attention from the road to do it, and they will be the ones that get charged, whether its smoking or eating or the radio is irrelevant really.

[4getmenot]

or looking at the sat nav map thingy

[leg_end758]

firstly try stubbing out a gearstick?

no burns?

try stubbing out a cigarette in a car whilst not looking?

nah.

jules the speedo in most cars is straightin front of you except for one i know toyota yaris .
this is in center and keepps yuor line of sight to middle of your lane as opposed to middle of the road.

[redcrx]

i have legend and its perfectly possible!

[jackthehat]

It's the 'lighting-up' of the cigarette that is usually the most time consuming and distracting...........as well as trying to ensure it is properly extinguished or actually 'leaves' the car when thrown out.............

[niknak74]

unruly - get a life !

You state you are not a driver, so what is your experience on this subject ?? You state that a driver has to constantly look at the speedo....no you don't an experienced driver knows the speed they are driving at.

I agree with the ruling, people should be charged if eating, smoking, drinking or anything else that disctracts them from the road.

[redcrx]

ok, lets think about it. If smoking in cars is banned then what else can distract you momentarily when driving.

how about anyone with hayfever being banned from driving when pollen counts are high. Sneezing means you may lose focus on what you are doing.

Talking to passengers?

why specifically pick on smoking? I have said that it causes distraction to some. But so do many other things.

[4getmenot]

stub out a cigarette in an ashtray easily done. Plan your route on sat nav nah. Watch a dvd?? impossible. lots of things are a distraction thats why smoking hasnt been banned totally you just may get a caution if it distracts you from driving the same as you would changind a cd (see earlier link)

[unrulyjulie]

niknak, ok i'll just get on the bus and go get me one! pathetic! lol

ok I may not be a driver but i have been a passenger in a car for most of my 39 years so i think i do have a right to pass my opinion. Just becuause you dont agree there is no need to tell me to "get a life" I have one thanks !

I wasn t aware that i need to experience things first hand to form an opinion but thanks for pointing that out to me, now take your own advice!

[Reverandfunk]

Biggest distraction is talking to a passenger.

How is that enforcible?

[leg_end758]

as 4get stated earlier .

head falling off a cigarette dangerous.

dont suppose it matters how clever you are when driving .
if its illegal then.

you gotta do as youre told.

either that or take the points and a fine.

your choice.

your licence at risk eh '

[4getmenot]

oooh where did you buy yours unrulie? :-) some people lives are sooooo expensive. lol

[Ethel]

Talking to a passenger is not distracting - the passenger is aware of road conditions and potential hazards and will generally shut up when they can see the driver needs to concentrate.

Dropping a phone, cd or anything else will not cause you to burn yourself or set fire to anything, unlike dropping a lit cigarette. Drop a lit cigarette and the natural reaction is panic.

[leg_end758]

fact is if its illegal .

dont do it .

[Reverandfunk]

Ethel how can you say that talking to a passneger is not distracting????

The passenger asks you a question and you have to think about the answer?

Most people when talking to a passenger take their eyes off the road to look at the person

What about people arguing in a car in the summer with the windows down I heard loads of people rowing

[4getmenot]

yes it is dangerous when cherry accidently falls off but so's driving :-) as I said its not banned its just the same for anything if you are distracted. and rev I'd say talking is worst thing too and they say that even having bluetooth headphones is as bad as using a phone normally.

[niknak74]

unruly - the reason for the get a life comment was - as you stated you don't smoke or drive....this will therefore not affect you...so as I stated get a life and worry about something that does affect you.

ps...lol

[4getmenot]

Whats illegal legend?? All it says is that it COULD lead to a conviction if a distraction the same as changing cd, and the are not taking all stereos out cars.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=484356&in_page_i d=1770

[4getmenot]

but we dont all drop our fags ethel. cause burning something is dangerous but why do most new cars have lighters in them if its so bad. No-one banned them saying but dropping a cigarette lighter would be dangerous. As I said driving is dangerous accidents happen.

[jiggy-gb]

"I wasn t aware that i need to experience things first hand to form an opinion but thanks for pointing that out to me, now take your own advice!"

Indeed unruly! I don't suppose any of us have ever murdered anyone yet we all have an opinion on the subject!

Children are the biggest distraction whilst driving, perhaps we should ban them also?