1984 - George you were right - Smoking drivers risk prosecution

You just got the year wrong ......

Motorists who smoke at the wheel could be prosecuted under a new rule in the latest edition of the Highway Code.

Smoking drivers would be charged if it is thought they were driving without due care and attention.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said drivers should not be distracted by other activities behind the wheel.

The first update of the Highway Code for eight years, which is 42 pages longer and has 29 more rules, includes a new safety code for novice drivers.

'Lighting up'

Mr Fitzpatrick told BBC News: "What it says is that drivers should remember they have to concentrate and they shouldn't be distracted either by passengers, by loud music, by reading a map, or using a mobile phone or by smoking.

"If you're lighting up with one hand and have a fag in the other hand then obviously you've not got any hands on the wheel.

"So I think what we're saying is concentration is very important in the prevention of accidents."

The driving booklet takes into account new laws over vehicle emissions and smoking in vehicles that are considered workplaces.

New initiatives such as quiet lanes, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, home zones and active traffic management schemes are also included.

'Polarise opinions'

Mr Fitzpatrick said the Highway Code was a "crucial tool for all road users" and was for life and not just for passing the driving test.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety for AA Public Affairs, believed motorists would be divided over the new smoking guidance.

He said: "A major change is the code's inclusion of smoking at the wheel as behaviour that police may interpret as a distraction and failure to be in proper control of the vehicle.

"This addition will polarise drivers' opinions both for and against."

'No evidence'

Campaign group Forest described the new smoking rule as "totally unnecessary".

Director Simon Clark said: "There are already rules concerning reckless driving and if it can be proved that somebody has driven recklessly they can be prosecuted.

"There's not a shred of evidence that smoking is a cause of accidents, or any more of a distraction than changing a CD or air-conditioning controls.

"They're treating adults as if we're all stupid.

"Our concern is that they say it's just a guideline now but within a year or two there will be people who say 'let's ban smoking while driving'."

Well I'd agree!

After nearly being hit by a driver who was trying to turn right with one hand cos the other hand was being used to hold his fag.

Andrew

Nothing will happen & nothing has changed.

All this will do is encourage the antis to actually try and ban smoking whilst driving, until that happens, just ignore the sad gits.

Driving without due care & attention is an opinion based offence that the officer has to prove, you do not have to prove your innocence

And Mr webdunc, being as your so interested in safe driving, you done that advanced course yet ? or you just an armchair safety expert ?

Im a total anti smoker but we dont need lots of smoke junkies going cold turkey while behind the wheel. Smokers cant cope with stress unless they have a fag?? Road rage will increase if smoking is banned in cars....... God damm nanny state.

Mick

I'm another anti smoking git but as long as you are careful, I see no need to ban it. My mother in law drops her fags regularly when driving and then fumbles about in the footwell burning herself trying to rescue it! now THAT is very dangerous but we aren't all that stupid now are we!

Another one was when a mate of mine was at school, his friend was being driven somewhere by a teacher who was smoking while driving. He flicked the fag ash out of the window but a burning bit flew back in and hit him in the eye. He totalled the car, broke both his legs, blinded in one eye and the poor kid suffered some nasty cuts n bruises with 2 weeks in hospital.

So as I was saying, as long as you are careful

Mike