a bit of good news: bit of a smoking ban ..

[kwackers]

An interesting way to educate people Kwackers

It was meant to be metaphorical - perhaps I should have added a winky or something rather than assuming the meaning was clear.

Are these the types of people who don't listen to any form of formal authority? Guidelines aren't going to make a difference to them. Come on.

No, primarily it gives a grounding for social pressure and raises awareness.
Despite all the stuff you read to the contrary and despite the lack of policing a lot less people use mobiles in their cars than used to. At it's peak it was silly, now I see just the odd one.
A lot of 'reasonable' people just need the prompting, with luck social pressure will do the rest. Personally I'd rather that than really require it to be policed - and if any folk don't, then we'll drag them out and give them a kicking.

[kwackers]

it's an utterly futile & pointless law that will achieve ZILCH

Pointless? What, has in we shouldn't try to protect children?
I don't really get your point, are you saying that if the chances of a law being policed are low then we shouldn't have it?
That would apply to an awful lot of laws. We could say goodbye to a lot of traffic laws immediately but if you're right then it wouldn't matter because the reason a decent number of people must obey them is because they want to right? I mean they can't actually be obeying them because not to do so is illegal can they?
Or perhaps this only applies if it's something you don't agree with?

[DaveP]

Some folk may be more in control of their vehicles

And others might be more stressed out than they are at present. This could be good for the kids, but its a mixed blessing for other road users,

[The idea that it can't be enforced and therefore it shouldn't be made into a law is imo nonsense.

The underlying argument is that making laws which are not then enforced tends to undermine the perceived importance of the Law generally. Works for me...

[kwackers]

[The idea that it can't be enforced and therefore it shouldn't be made into a law is imo nonsense.

The underlying argument is that making laws which are not then enforced tends to undermine the perceived importance of the Law generally. Works for me...

Except of course that there is some enforcement, may not be enough but it exists.
Policing smoking in cars with kids in is very similar to policing mobile phones. We all like to put forth anecdotes about phone use but the reality is that it has fallen and more importantly it's seen as anti-social.
So I'd say it's a success - particularly if you think about how little enforcement there's been. Yes we'd like more enforcement and yes things could be better but there's no doubt in my mind that had things carried on the way they were heading before the law was changed nobody would think twice about making calls whilst driving.

[DaveP]

You'll have to overlook my cynicism.
I drive trucks. Smoking in trucks was banned years ago as part of the ban on smoking in the workplace.
I suppose smoky cabs are a little less common than they used to be.
Interestingly, dog ends are rarely found in dashboard ash trays these days.
I'm not sure just how much of an all round improvement that represents....

[Psamathe]

So a new law and 3 months later the Police declare it is cannot be enforced.

3 months after the law came into effect and no fines, no court summons, zilch.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/smoking-ban-for-drivers-with-children-cannot-be-enforced-police-say-a6932376.html

Ian

[beardy]

It may have had a good effect anyway, despite that.
Some people out there will have stopped doing it just because it is forbidden by the authorities, even if not enforced. People are different. Some stop because they care about their children, some stop because they have been told it is a crime and other stop because they are afraid of punishment.

[Cyril Haearn]

anyone been to Ireland recently? It used to be the classic country for smoky pubs. Now smoking has been banned and the law is observed.

The law led the way and was succesful.

Hope they soon ban beer in pubs too, then I can visit one )

[JohnW]

Shouldn't the pollution motor vehicles pump out of their exhausts in much larger quantities be tackled first?

+1 to that, but we're both in danger of being burned at the stake as heretics.

Mike's point does come under the banner of campaigning for the benefit of cyclists.

[Cyril Haearn]

Has the law led the way? Any convictions?

[Cunobelin]

[JohnW]

That's motorists for you....................

How fast did you go on the 'Trice' Cunobelin? - you never told us!

[JohnW]

Has the law led the way? Any convictions?

Good question Bryn.

[kwackers]

Has the law led the way? Any convictions?

Good question Bryn.

Making something illegal isn't necessarily about convictions - lets face it we don't actually want convictions!
We simply don't want people to do it.

It's more about changing public perception, turning it into a social fopar.

(And I can't remember the last time I saw someone smoking with kids in the car. So perhaps it works.)

[Cunobelin]

That's motorists for you....................

How fast did you go on the 'Trice' Cunobelin? - you never told us!

Tickets were 32 and 38...both in a 15 mph zone