Wales to ban people smoking in cars carrying children

A ban on people smoking in private vehicles when children are present will be introduced in Wales, First Minister Carwyn Jones and Health Minister Mark Drakeford announced today (Tuesday 15th July).

A consultation on the landmark proposal will be launched shortly.

The ban will protect children from the avoidable harms associated with passive smoking, which can lead to a range of chronic diseases. Children are particularly at risk from exposure to second-hand smoke, in the confined spaces of a vehicle where they cannot escape from the noxious chemicals in tobacco smoke.

The decision to move to a ban comes after Wales became the first country in the UK to tackle the issue of smoking in vehicles when children are present.

In 2011, the First Minister announced the Welsh Government’s intention to mount a campaign to tackle children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars. He also said legislative options would be considered if such exposure did not start to fall within three years.

New research published today shows the number of children being exposed to smoking in private vehicles has declined. However, it shows a sizeable minority of young people are still being exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke and adults are continuing to smoke in their cars when children are present.

The research also shows:

• The number of people who do not allow smoking in their main car has increased, from 71% in September 2011 to 76% in November 2013;
• Awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke has increased over the last three years; in November 2013, 88% of people agreed second-hand smoke can cause significant health problems;
• More than four out of five people agreed smoking should be banned in cars carrying children across all surveys carried out, reaching 84% in November 2013;
• Fewer than 10% of respondents agreed it was acceptable to smoke in a car with either non-smokers or children, including with a window open;
• Some 90% of respondents did not think a ban on smoking in cars carrying children would affect them in any way.

Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones said:

“In 2012, we launched the Fresh Start Wales campaign to promote smoke-free cars carrying children and raise awareness to parents and others the risk their smoking poses to the health of children. We made clear throughout that campaign we would consider the possibility of legislation when evidence of prevalence of smoking in cars carrying children in Wales is available in the summer of 2014.

“While I welcome the fact the number of children being exposed to smoking in cars has declined, a sizeable minority of young people are still being exposed and adults continue to smoke in their cars when children are present.

“There is also evidence from the primary school survey that inequalities in children’s exposure to second hand smoke remains, so we will press ahead with plans to ban people smoking in cars carrying children.”

Health Minister Professor Mark Drakeford said:

“The research findings clearly show there is public support for not allowing smoking in cars when carrying children and that this support – and awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke – have increased over the last three years.

“Although the research findings show that progress has been made in reducing children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars, we now believe the introduction of regulations to prohibit smoking in private vehicles carrying under-18s is needed as the final piece in the jigsaw to eliminate the harm and end persistent inequalities in exposure.

“We will now consult on these proposals and I urge people to have their say.”