Has the law changed from today, so that it is illegal to smoke when you are driving the car???
2007-10-01 04:32:47 · 32 answers · asked by Rebel 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It is an offence under the smoking ban to smoke in a SHARED work vehicle, ie if you regularly have passengers in your company car you will commit an offence, if it only ever you, then you won't. It is not enforced by the police but local government who would fine your comapny who no doubt in turn would penalise you. In the revised Highway Code it is recommended not to smoke as you are technically not in full control of the vehicle and therefore could possibly commit an offence regarding due care and attention. Realistically, you would only get done for this if you were involved in an accident to which a major contributory factor was that you were not in control due to smoking, the same as fiddling with radio, eating sandwich, drinking soft drink, etc, basically anything that makes you not have full control or distracts you from driving. Mobile phones different as have legislation all of there own!
2007-10-01 04:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by footie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the law has not changed, it is just that they are suggesting that the police could stop you if they believe you are not paying full attention to your driving.
In the past this meant:
Shaving whilst driving
Eating whilst driving
Putting on makeup
Reading a map
Etc.
Someone has suggested that smoking be included
Personally I think tuning the radio is far more dangerous
2007-10-01 04:38:18 · answer #2 · answered by Ron S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is just guidance from the highway code. However if you are seen to by driving without due care attention then that is illegal. Therefore it is not the best thing to do. It is illegal to smoke in company car/van/ lorry due to ban of smoking in public places introduced in July 2007.
2007-10-01 05:31:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a part of the new highway code that you shouldn't smoke whilst driving as it is classed as driving without undue care and attention, but I think it is more for if you light the cigarette whilst driving as you are not look at the road, whereas if you light it whilst stopped in traffic isn't an offence. I think it will depend on how strict the police man is.
2007-10-01 04:38:42 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa T 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a confusing law. It was passed to protect children under 12 in vehicles from second-hand smoke, not prevent smoking in vehicles per se. Some States and some individuals are not understanding this law properly.
2007-10-01 04:37:42 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not true,it says in the new highway code book that it advises you not to smoke and eat whilst driving,but not a law.
2007-10-01 04:48:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The law with regards to smoking has changed as of today, but only for people under the age of 18 as they are no longer allowed to purchase tobacco products.
2007-10-01 04:44:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, it's grey area. You have to be prepared for it to be more likely that you are stopped for smoking in the car as it can be deemed as driving without due care and attention. Stupid if you ask me, will you get stopped for changing stations on the radio etc.
2007-10-01 04:35:57 · answer #8 · answered by flyingconfused 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard this too, and as somebody correctly pointed out on local radio, if the reason is that you wont have two hands on the steering wheel and therefore complete control how will this way of thinking work if you have a manual gearbox. You cant change gear with two hands on the wheel.
More knee-jerk reaction from the nanny state i fear.
2007-10-01 04:38:38 · answer #9 · answered by freddiem 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the highway code has advised that it is dangerous to drive whilst smoking, but I don't think it is law, yet
2007-10-01 04:36:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋