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As a 63-year-old who grew up when smoking was fasionable and subsequently went on to be a smoker. I am now bombarded with critis=cism about my habit! I am stuck with that BUT I am seeing RED at the latest consideration that smoking should be banned in MY own PRIVATE car. To say it distracts is absolute nonsense and that one hand has to be used for the cigarette is also nonsense. I take my hand off the wheel all the time to CHANGE GEAR! I also keep the cigarette in my mouth thereby leaving me TWO hands to drive with (apart from changing gear all the time).
I will NEVER stop smoking in my OWN home or in my own CAR and I am furious that it has even been mentioned at all. ARE WE LIVING IN A POLICE STATE HERE IN THE UK?

- Cliff, London, 28/09/2007 12:15
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Ok, now enough it is no longer funny and is now truly harrassment!... Give the smokers a break and focus your attention on the real evils in today's society. There are greater worries and problems and that include children not being safe in their own homes (even with non smoking parents) to think about at present. So time to wake up and deal with real life people!

- Nathalie, Putney, 28/09/2007 11:15
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Smoking a legal substance in a private car has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else. I am a non-smoker, but will defend the freedom of choice and not listen to the hysterical propaganda which is being used by our government to control the masses.
Their next project is alcohol, which will no doubt be taxed to the hilt like cigarettes are, (£10 billion pounds tax from the tobacco industry) which will of course be for our own good!

- Nicole Gallard, London, 28/09/2007 11:15
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Another way for the government to control us and what we do in our lives. If people want to smoke themselves to do death in their own car then let them, it's their decision. As long as no-one else is forced to sit in the car with them and children aren't subject to it then let them get on with it I say.

- Margie, East London, 28/09/2007 11:15
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I think drviers should be prevented from smoking whilst in cars. Not only is is dangerous for passengers but driving whilst smoking endangers other drivers on the road too. Smokers should stop being so selfish and consider others for a change, afterall it these changes will benefit them the most!

- Rami, Ealing, 28/09/2007 11:15
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I have always believed that smoking in a car with a child present should be considered as child abuse and carry a heavy penalty.

- Lesley Dove, Hampton, 28/09/2007 11:15
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If it is illegal to eat an apple or drink from a bottle of water when driving a car on the grounds that this distracts the driver, then logic demands that it should be illegal to smoke whilst driving.

Opening a cigarette packet and pulling out a cigarette certainly requires both hands. Lighting a cigarette and smoking it are just as distracting as eating or drinking.

However it remains legal to change a cassette tape or a CD.

On the other hand, if smokers are desperate for a cigarette, are they not likely to drive faster to leave a motorway to have that cigarette? Certainly I find that listening to tapes stops me becoming bored on a long journey and far more tolerant of delays etc. Logically these things should also be banned when driving.

I always carry a bottle of water in the car on a hot day. Now however I have to leave the motorway to take a swig.

Logic demands that smoking in cars should be banned but where is this all going to end?

- Martin Fielding, London, England, 28/09/2007 11:15
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It's up to the driver if he/she smokes or not and nobody is being forced to get into the car with them. Would say if they have children then they shouldn't smoke in the car as kids don't have a choice.

- Sarah, London, 28/09/2007 11:15
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Wihtout a doubt smoking should be banned in cars. We should be doing more to protect children as the parents of children who smoke around them clearly don't care. I think we should go one step further and start making moves to making smoking illegal full stop. What do you say to that Mr Brown?

- Roy, Fulham, 28/09/2007 11:15
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As a non-smoker I would welcome a ban on smoking in cars. It would save me having to tell some of my friends not to light up in my car. And think how much nicer it would be going into another car without it smelling of fags.

- Sophie, Sudbury, 28/09/2007 11:15
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Sophie, Sudbury

It's your car, tell 'em no smoking, don't need a law for that. If they insist on lighting up, insist they get out and walk. Simple.

- Stan, Expat, 28/09/2007 11:15
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They probably got all the Anti-Smoking Brigade to take part in this survey.
ASH and its venomous supporters have been allowed for too long to publish their lies and have conned the government and public about the danger of second-hand-smoke. Fight this smoking ban otherwise they will continue to add more bans bit by bit.

- Exocet, South Queensferry, Scotland, 28/09/2007 11:15
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You cannot eat or drink whilst driving, you cannot operate a mobile phone and even a handsfree phone can cause you a problem, but you can light up a cigarette and smoke a cigarette and stub it out (usually by throwing it out to the car behind) all whilst driving along one handed and without any penalty. If it's ok for smokers it must be ok for eaters, drinkers and mobile phone users.

- Petespress, Chelmsford, UK, 28/09/2007 11:15
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Great, these are probably the same people who don't think twice about using their mobiles and eating while driving, thus endangering everyone elses lives on the roads!

- John, London, 28/09/2007 11:15
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