Why Do Smokers Throw Cigarette Butts Out of Their Cars?

Question

Many people say this is because they don't want their car to smell. What I don't get is this...if smokers don't have any problems sticking those things in their mouth and inhaling the smoke, then why don't they like the smell of the butts in their car?

Answer 1

Well, I answered your earlier question and I really don't think the smell is the most important reason. You're right on this point, their car already smells like smoke so the ashtray isn't going to make a huge difference! At most, it's more laziness that they don't want to empty their ashtray because *old* cigarette butts do smell worse than fresh ones... there's a stale smell to them too.

Mostly I still think it's laziness, carelessness and ignorance about the environmental damage & fire risk the butts cause!

Answer 2

That is a good question.
I do believe it is because unfortunately it has become politically correct for auto makers to either not put an ashtray in the vehicle or to put it where it can't be reached anymore.
They have made cigarette lighters an option on the vehicles that do have ashtrays. If I were to try and put my cigarette out in the trucks ashtray, I would probably have an accident.
I have, however, become more aware of the butt going out the window thing and am trying hard to stop that habit.
I don't like butts laying around my yard or in public places so I have been putting it out, putting it in my purse or pocket and throwing in the trash later.
Sorry for all the times I threw it out my car window!

Answer 3

I'm an ex-smoker and never understood smoking in the car and failing to use the ash tray.
My car was going to stink regardless- I always used the ashtray.
I can tell you this most cars made in the last 5 years don't have ashtrays as part of the standard equipment pkg ( I know Honda doesn't ) so people have no choice but throw their butts out if they are too cheap to have an ashtray installed.

Answer 4

To the question...out of the window, no. On the street, yes, it's a German habit my Chilenian friends make endless fun of- but over here most trash cans are plastic and we're panicky about starting a fire! When I'm in a park or somewhere really neat I'll save the butt until it's cool enough for the trashcan tho.

Answer 5

Not all smokers toss their cigarette butts, but the ones who do only have their own *selfishness* to blame. Smoking them is not a problem because they are addicted to them and/or like them. But to deal with the trash and the smoke afterwards?

Think of it this way, when a person buys fast food and eats it in the car, there's a wrapper left over. They don't have a problem with the wrapper until after they're finished eating and fulfilling their own needs. But afterwards, it's just trash to them. And I bet if littering weren't so socially unacceptable (and against the law!), we'd see a lot more fast food wrappers flying out of car windows. Sad, but probably true.

Answer 6

Lazy. If you pile up the ash tray in the car at some point in time you're going to have to empty it. This is one of those things that really bugs me. Its littering plain and simple, yet society looks the other way. If I threw trash on the street or sidewalk people would take offense, but they accept smokers doing this all the time.

Answer 7

Because most smokers are nasty people who do not care where they throw their garbage. I do not care if your car did not come with an ashtray....use a soda can. I do not care if you do not want your car to smell like smoke....quit smoking, or at least quit smoking while you drive.

Answer 8

A recent clean up project on America's beaches discovered that the bulk of all beach trash was cigarette butts. Smokers are the most egregious litterers in the United States today and are big contributers to the trashy look of our streets and highways.

I think there should be a law enforcement crackdown on cigarette litters. Cops should pull over anyone who tosses a but out the window, ticket them, and the court should fine them the max until smokers learn to control themselves like civilized human beings.

Answer 9

I don't know. I think it's just laziness. I smoke, unfortunately, but I don't throw butts out of my car. I always use an ashtray. I couldn't handle thinking I might be responsible for starting one of those 1,000 or more acre fires. People die in those fires, or loose everything they own.
Some new cars don't come with ashtrays, but if you have to smoke in your car, you should buy an ashtray. They sell them at almost every auto parts store I've ever been in.

Answer 10

That's just how they are...
You would think that by 2007 everyone on the planet would realize that smoking kills people and costs the rest of us billions in higher health care expense. Frankly, it doesn't surprise me that people who know that and smoke anyway think nothing of throwing their stinking cigarettes out the window for the rest of society to deal with. Kind of like their health care bills when whatever medical insurance they have runs out. Guess who picks up the tab for their health care until they finally die from emphysema or cancer?
This type of person thinks the rest of the world should pick up after them.