ASH Wales welcomes the announcement today of the consultation on banning smoking in cars with children under 18 present.
There is widespread public support for a ban on smoking in cars with children, with 4 out of 5 Welsh adults (79%) now wanting to see legislation introduced, according to a YouGov survey for ASH Wales in 2014.
While ASH Wales also welcomes the report that the number of children being exposed to smoking in private vehicles has declined, there is still more to be done. Evidence from Canada has shown that countries with a ban have seen a steeper decline in children’s exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles than countries running education campaigns alone.
“We welcome the decision by the Welsh Government to release a consultation on the issue of smoking in cars with children. Concentrations of tobacco smoke inside a car can reach dangerous levels very quickly. We welcome the findings that children’s exposure to secondhand smoke has reduced but there is more to be done. The time has come for a ban to be introduced to prevent any further harm to children in Wales.”
