PUBLIC OPINION > Smoking in Cars Is Your Right
SodaHead Living
2011/11/21 16:00:00
The United Kingdom is cracking down on tobacco one rule at a time. The British Medical Association's Board of Science has proposed to "achieve a tobacco-free society by 2035," and as part of the push they're trying to pass a ban on smoking in cars. While doctors support a total ban on smoking in cars, some have suggested only banning smoking when there are children or passengers in the car.
So far, there have been no serious pushes for anything like this in America, but the idea could very well ignite sparks in the States. But when we took the proposal to SodaHeads to find out what they thought, there didn't seem to be much more than some light kindling in the crowd.
So far, there have been no serious pushes for anything like this in America, but the idea could very well ignite sparks in the States. But when we took the proposal to SodaHeads to find out what they thought, there didn't seem to be much more than some light kindling in the crowd.
Should It Be Illegal to Smoke in Your Own Car?
57% Reject Smoking Bans for Cars
We felt it would be appropriate to separate the "yes" vote into the three options the U.K. was considering, but even then, the "no" votes outnumbered all of the bans combined. For the most part, it was a simple issue of what many considered to be unnecessary government involvement. One clever commenter wrote, "Government needs to butt out!!"
As for the different ban proposals, a ban on smoking with children in the car was definitively more popular than either a total ban or a ban on smoking with adult passengers. We also discovered that smoking with children in the car is already outlawed in several Australian territories, though an Australian commenter noted, "People still do it anyway."
Nonsmokers Step In
While smokers were obviously opposed to the ban in large numbers, the bans still failed with nonsmokers by 2%. One respondent wrote, "I have never smoked and never will. That being said, who am I to dictate what someone else can or cannot do in their own vehicle? If it's not illegal, it is none of my or anyone else's business." (Side note: There were four smokers who voted in favor of a complete ban.)
Kids Call It Quits
It looks like kids don't want their parents smoking with them in the car -- teen voters were actually in favor of the ban. Only 37% of them thought it should be completely legal, while the rest were divided between the different types of bans. Most of them opted for the lighter rule: Only ban it when they're around.
Lawmakers Like the Ban
Broken down by career industry, the strongest supporters of some kind of ban on smoking in the car were those who listed themselves in the legal field. Of the five voters who work in legal, only one of them rejected the ban. The other four were split between a kids-only band and a total ban.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about smoking bans. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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DDogbreath 2011/11/22 06:07:07
You raise your kids as you see fit, I raise my kids as I see fit.
Unless they are being abused or molested, you have no right to tell me what to do with/around my kids
Bit once they dictate what you do in your car , how long until they say no smoking in your home. Then they will say only 1 6pack of coke a week, because it causes your kids to get fat. Then you can only watch certain tv programs becse the violence and nudity are not good for kids.
Once you start down the hill, it becomes impossible to get back to the top. Never start the slide to begin with, we are already 3/4 way to ghe bottom
Smoking in car illegal in state ( Arkansas )
http://www.stuttgartdailylead...
Law prohibits smoking in car with kids (California )
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/s...
Maryland lawmakers could ban smoking in cars with children
http://www.physorg.com/news/2...
List of States That Banned Smoking in Cars With Children
http://www.ehow.com/list_7392...
When will you people learn that you are to stupid to think for yourselves? .
It is well known that people are Idiots, unless the get a government job , then they become super bright and should control you.
I could also mention the time my shirt caught fire from the ashes of a cigarette flying back in the window and hitting me, but that's another story for another day.
That being said I hope adults would be smart enough not to smoke in their cars with little children or people with asthma riding with them.
(i do not smoke)
How'd that be? Huh? :O)