The BBC today reports that:
Smoking in the car, even with the windows open or the air conditioning on, creates pollution that exceeds official "safe" limits, scientists say.
The claim is based on a study – the largest of its kind, allegedly – by the Scottish Centre for Indoor Air at Aberdeen University, published in Tobacco Control.
It is revealing that the authors have concluded their report by endorsing a call by the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Group for a ban on smoking in cars.
Publicly supporting prohibition hardly suggests neutrality.
Then again, it's no surprise. Aberdeen has form, you see. In fact the university is up there with the universities of Bath and Stirling when it comes to tobacco control.
Three years ago I questioned Aberdeen's response to the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, pointing out that:
Aberdeen's feeble submission contains not a shred of evidence or research to support a ban on tobacco displays and vending machines ...
We are told that the university "is committed to seeking and providing evidence in all areas of research" but there's precious little sign of it here. So much for one of the "major centres of teaching and research in medicine and life sciences".
The BBC has quoted me in today's report, 'Smoking in the car 'breaks toxic limit''.
Someone called Jo Smith then sent Forest an email fisking my response. It reads:
But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, says: "We don't encourage adults to smoke in a car if small children are present, out of courtesy if nothing else, but we would strongly oppose legislation to ban smoking in cars.
Well you could hardly say you do encourage it in those circumstances, could you?
"According to research, 84% of adults don't smoke in a car with children present so legislation to ban it would be disproportionate."
So the 84% unaffected will not care. And the other 16% are so stupid (or don’t care) that they need to be stopped by legislation. So how is that disproportionate? It only affects those that it needs to.
"In terms of civil rights we are entering difficult territory. For most people a car is their private space. If you ban smoking in cars with children, the next logical step is to ban parents from smoking in the home."
What nonsense!
"Parents must be allowed to use their common sense, and most of the time they do. There is no need for further regulation."
Yes there is. 16% have no common sense and their drug addiction clearly takes priority over their children’s health.
We have also received an email that reads:
Whilst I have to applaud the advice not to smoke if there are any children in the car out of courtesy, what about other adults who by their own choice do not wish to smoke?
Interesting that you should mention civil rights. As an adult of 49 years I find the one sided arguments citing children's health particularly annoying, yet as an adult no-one seems to care for my health. I won't bore you with why I do not smoke, suffice to say I have never been interested in smoking, not even when school friends were smoking behind the bike sheds.
I am cynical enough to accept that research figures can be manipulated to reflect the required outcome in any argument, however, as a motorcyclist, I do find that car drivers who smoke do not seem to have the same level of courtesy when they are driving, regularly flicking their ash out of the window, and even the unextinguished butt.
The best is yet to come, though:
I do not like the smell of cigarette smoke, and have acquired the ability to determine if, when out motorcycling, I am following a smoker, just by the smell of that smoke and often the car can be as much as 100+ metres ahead of me - not bad when travelling at 70mph on a motorway.
Talk about senses working overtime! If he really can detect the smell of smoke at a distance of 100+ metres whilst travelling at 70mph (and wearing a motorcycle helmet!) I suggest he donates his nasal glands to the nation so we can all smell what he's smelling.
Our correspondent then continues:
Another thing, is the current ban on smoking in public places. Whilst it had the interests of the non smoker at the heart of its objectives, I find this has been a total waste of time. I work in a large industry and often find that smokers will stand just outside the doorways to my workshop with the result that any smoke will get back into the building anyway.
The same is true for pubs and shops too. However, I did find it interesting that, on a previous visit to the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit, they had signs posted on their offices advising people not to smoke within 35 metres of the buildings.
I personally think that a ban on all smoking would be better, but a good starting point would be when in vehicles, along with keeping windows closed, limiting car stereo volumes, and of course banning all mobile phone use when in a car, even hands free use.
I accept that eveyone is allowed to make thier [sic] own choices in life, that smokers and non-smokers will never see eye to eye, and that eventually death comes to us all, but I would prefer to die by my own actions, rather than suffering from a cancer caused by someone else's "lack of courtesy".