Majority of motorists believe new smoking ban in cars in England and Wales won’t be enforced
Nine in 10 motorists (92%) do not have confidence that the new smoking ban in cars, coming into effect this Thursday (1 October 2015) in England and Wales, will be effectively enforced, according to new data from the RAC.*
While awareness of the new law – which will make it illegal to smoke in a car when any occupant is under 18 years old – is high with the vast majority (90%) of drivers knowing about it, only half (50%) knew it is coming in this week, with 41% having no idea when the new law takes effect.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “While the motoring public know this new law is coming, our data shows that a significant proportion are not aware just how soon it takes effect.
“It is worrying that nine in 10 motorists have concerns about the extent to which the new law is likely to be enforced. This is perhaps well-founded as traffic police officer numbers have fallen by nearly a quarter (23%) between 2010 and 2014 across forces in England and Wales, so it is hard to see how people flouting the law are going to be caught.
“The new ban joins a raft of other laws that have been introduced in recent years such as making it illegal to undertake or hog the middle lane of a motorway. But without sufficient enforcement there is a real danger that these laws will quickly be forgotten by a large proportion of the motoring population.”
A motorist found to be breaking the new smoking-in-vehicles ban will be subject to a £50 on-the-spot fine.
