Smoking in Cars with Children Banned in England

Smoking in cars while taking children as passengers will be banned this year in England. The law, which will come into effect on October 1 was recently passed in the Commons, where more than 340 MP's supported the regulation. People who are found smoking in cars in the presence of children will now have to pay a fine of £50.

Public health officials in the UK have for some time complained about the dangers of second hand smoke. According to reports by the British Lung Foundation, more than 430,000 children are vulnerable to second hand smoke each year while travelling in cars.

Studies reveal that the inhalation of passive smoke could lead to various health risks like meningitis, asthma or cot death. Public Health Minister Jane Ellison welcomed the smoking regulation and said the regulations would be an 'important step' to help protect children from the ill effects of smoking.

Chief Executive of British Lung Foundation, Dr Penny Woods, considered the smoking ban to be a 'tremendous victory'. She said "We urge the Government to show the same commitment to introduce standardised packaging for all tobacco products, in order to protect the 200,000 children taking up smoking every year in this country.

"We are certain that these measures together will prove to be two of the most significant milestones for public health since the smoke-free legislation of 2007."

Director of smokers group Forest, Simon Clark felt the legislation was excessive and remarked, "The overwhelming majority of smokers know it's inconsiderate to smoke in a car with children and they don't do it. They don't need the state micro-managing their lives.

He added, "The police won't be able to enforce the law on their own so the government will need a small army of snoopers to report people."