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Smokefree cars |
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The three main issues to consider are HEALTH HARM, ROAD SAFETY, and FIRE CAUSATION. See ASH factsheet Cars with kids should be smokefree See World roundup
NEWS: Queensland to make
cars carrying children smokefree US state makes
child-carrying cars smokefree Study shows smoking in
cars hazardous to health 37 groups urge NSW to follow
SA, Tas and protect kids in cars World moves on
smokefree cars carrying kids
Tas makes improvements but
leaves display in kids' faces
SA to make cars with children smokefree
Recent studies have established that levels of exposure to secondhand smoke inside cars are significant, enough to cause serious health harm - especially to children. See for example: Sendzik et al (March 2008) Canada TV report and full study; also Edwards R et al (Oct 2006), "Highly Hazardous Air Quality Associated with Smoking in Cars..." in New Zealand Medical Journal 119(1244); also Rees V and Connolly G (2006) "Measuring Air Quality..." in Amer J Preventative Medicine XX(x) doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.07.021 A March 2007 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia has shown teenagers risk of asthma is doubled by exposure to secondhand smoke in cars - the University of WA authors backing calls for banning smoking in cars carrying children. See ASH Australia media release 19/3/07 including link to the research There's a mountain of research on the harm caused to other people by secondhand smoke - see the studies at SmokeFree Australia for starters. There is also much research on secondhand smoke harm to children - see information for parents under Passive Smoke Harms Kids. You can simulate exposure to secondhand smoke in various types of cars under various conditions at the US site simsmoke.
Research shows smoking while driving is clearly a danger - and more serious than other distractions like mobile phones or eating, since smoking involves the risk of dropping burning matter into your lap! Recent studies on smoking and car safety were reviewed by Monash University Accident Research Centre in November 2003. See p. 18 of Monash review Nov 2003The Monash review points out that several studies have found that smokers have an increased risk of being involved in motor accidents, and actual distraction caused by the act of smoking is a likely factor. The review concludes that "it is clear that smoking while driving is a hazard." One study cited connects it with over 2,000 accidents a year. See also the study by Wen C et al in Tobacco Control (2005) showing smoking almost doubles car death risk. See full studySee the studies Wen cites, establishing that smoking while driving is an independent factor increasing accident risk: Brison RJ, "Risk of automobile accidents in cigarette smokers" in Can J Public Health 1990;81:102-6. DiFranza JR, Winters TH, Goldberg RJ, et al, "The relationship of smoking to motor vehicle accidents and traffic violations" in NY State J Med 1986;86:464-7. Grout P, Cliff KS, Harman ML, et al, "Cigarette smoking, road traffic accidents and seat belt usage" in Public Health 1983;97:95-101. Research also shows the effect of smoking on the brain is to give you a mind-altering "high" as well as making you more nervous, jittery and incompetent. See ASH media release 26/7/02
There's also evidence that many fires are started from lit cigarettes being thrown from car windows. See for example, Chapman S and Balmain A, "Time to legislate for fire-safe cigarettes in Australia" in MJA 2004; 181(6):292-293 or in mja online. The NSW Fire Service estimates around 4% of all cigarettes thrown from car windows start some kind of fire. Cigarettes can also cause fires inside cars - sometimes with fatal results.
Back to ASH Action: Smokefree places
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Page last updated 14/8/08 |