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Smoking in cars with children to be banned from October

The Welsh Assembly has voted to ban smoking in cars carrying children from October 1st 2015. A new publicity campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the upcoming changes.

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Smoking in cars with children to be banned from October

The Health Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that smoking in cars carrying children is to be banned in Wales from October 1st 2015.

The Welsh government has been campaigning to promote smoke-free cars since 2012. Credit: ITV Wales News

The Welsh Government proposed the ban in July last year in a move to help protect the health of children and the risk of passive smoking.

It later added to the plans in September announcing on-the-spot fines for people caught smoking in cars with children under the age of 18.

The Minister said the ban, which is subject to the approval of Assembly Members, will protect children from the avoidable harms linked with exposure to tobacco smoke, which can lead to a range health problems.

Regulations will be introduced before the National Assembly for Wales to:

  • Make it an offence to smoke in a private vehicle with someone under the age of 18 is present.
  • Make it an offence to fail to prevent smoking in a private vehicle when someone under the age of 18 is present.

“Exposure to second-hand smoke is a substantial threat to children’s health; it can leave them vulnerable to a variety of health conditions such as lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, middle ear disease and other serious infections."

– Mark Drakeford, Health Minister

The regulations will be subject to a vote in the National Assembly this summer and, if approved by AMs, will come into force on the same date as similar proposals in England.

Enforcement of the proposed new law will largely be taken forward by police officers and a £50 on-the-spot fine will apply to people caught flouting the new law.

“Children cannot escape from the toxic chemicals contained in second-hand smoke when travelling in vehicles..Changing the law to ban smoking in cars carrying children will protect them from the health harms associated with exposure to second-hand smoke in private vehicles, encourage action by smokers to protect children from second-hand smoke and lead to a reduction in health conditions in children caused by exposure to second-hand smoke.”

– Dr Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer for Wales
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Smoking in cars with children to be banned from October

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