I don't need the law. No-one smokes in my car or my house. Under any circumstances.
I don't think smoking in cars needs to be banned, but I do feel smoking around children, especially in enclosed areas including cars, should be. It's unfair on them - it's not like they generally get a choice and can get out of the car and walk away, like adults can.
Now, I think smoking is bonkers, the smell alone is revolting and I should be able to shop, drink, eat in public without being affected by it - BUT I know I have no right to tell others to stop if it only affects them and others who can choose whether to suffer or not. Those who can't choose should be protected. That is principally children.
Well lets ban the car as well then?
It pollutes which surely does not help children walking to school, or those with bad asthma...it kills on a daily basis.
Where the heck does one draw the line on things that are bad for you?
I agree completely about not smoking in a car with kids in it, or smoking in a house with young children, but surely a level of common sense should prevail as well?
Cars have a purpose, they are pretty well essential for most people at least some of the time. Yes, there is a long way to got to reduce the pollution they create. And ideally reduce the dependency on them - most of us could walk or cycle more often.
But equating smoking with car driving is missing the point. Smoking has zero positive aspects - apart from people feel better with the nicotine - but that is just satisfying the chemical addiction. OK there is a tax argument but I think that hardly outweighs the health benefits people obtain when they stop smoking. I'm not talking a money trade-off here - just how people feel.
I don't think there is a line as such that we can draw. It's about balancing risk, cost, benefit and all that. There is no ideal world (outside of our imaginations), but we can work on making this one the best for all.
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