Smoking In A Car With Anyone Under 18 Years Old

A campaign to raise awareness of a ban on smoking in cars with children has begun.

From October 1 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in a car or other vehicles with anyone under the age of 18 present. The law does not apply to e-cigarettes.

Anyone breaking the new law could face a £50 on the spot fine.

The Department of Health say the law is intended to protect children and young people from the dangers of breathing second hand smoke.

Second hand smoke contains thousands of chemicals which puts them at risk of health issues including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. This danger is made worse when they are in the confined space of a car and can't escape the fumes.

An official government website says the law applies to any private vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof.

The law applies even if the windows or sunroof are open, the air conditioning is on, or sitting in the open doorway of the vehicle. The law won't apply to a convertible car with the roof completely down.

The law will apply to every driver in England and Wales, including those aged 17 and those with a provisional driving license. The law does not apply if the driver is 17 years old and on their own in the car.

Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-rules-about-tobacco-e-cigarettes-and-smoking-1-october-2015/new-rules-about-tobacco-e-cigarettes-and-smoking-1-october-2015