Public backs car smoking ban

[Posted: Mon 08/03/2010 www.irishhealth.com]

The vast majority of Irish people believe that smoking in cars carrying children should be should be banned, according to irishhealth.com's latest viewers' poll.

The findings of this online poll, in which over 800 people voted will strengthen recent calls by campaign group ASH Ireland, which has reiterated its call for a ban on smoking in cards transporting children under 16 years of age. The Department of Health is reviewing the possibility of such a ban being introduced in Ireland. Some parts of Australia, Canada and the US already have such as ban in place, while in Europe, smoking in cars with children present is currently banned in Cyprus and is under review in Holland.

We asked site visitors if they agreed with this proposal. Eighty-seven per cent said yes, while only 11% said no and 2% were unsure. The poll provoked a vigorous online debate, with some arguing that legislation for private motor vehicles smacked of the 'nanny state' while others argued that, until it was banned and that ban enforced, drink-driving was widely tolerated and viewed as socially acceptable.

Other contributors pointed out that mobile phone use in cars is also banned, but this ban is widely flouted as it is not seen to be enforced. There was however little overall debate about passive smoking being harmful to children.

View the poll results and comments, and results of previous polls here