Child car smoking ban proposal – what do you think?

My Mum and Dad used to smoke way back in  the 60’s the car and boy did I hate it and now a  Labour plan to ban smoking in cars carrying children is due to be put to a vote in the House of Lords later.

Labour peers are to table an amendment to the Children and Families Bill detailing their proposal for England.

The party says that if it is not passed in this vote, it will be included in its manifesto for the next election.

The Department of Health has said it believes education campaigns are a better way to discourage people from smoking around children but what do you think?

Here are some facts ……

• Smoke can stay in the air for up to two and a half hours even with a window open
• This also applies in small enclosed places – like cars
• Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer.
• Exposure to second-hand smoke has been strongly linked to chest infections, asthma, ear problems and cot death in children
• Bans on smoking in cars when children are present already exist in some US states, including California, as well as in parts of Canada and Australia

Campaigners say the developing lungs of children are much more vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke – which can be concentrated in cars – increasing their risk of illnesses that range from asthma and colds to lung cancer.

Should the government lead the way and create legislation or should parents be able to choose?