Worldwide support for ban
on smoking in cars with kids
Sydney,
Dec 5 (IANS) People all over the world support the ban on
smoking in cars with children.
A
newly published review of 15 research studies across Britain,
North America, Australia and New Zealand shows there is considerable
support for tougher action on smoking in cars.
The
first such review was conducted by George Thomson and Nick
Wilson of the University of Otago, Wellington.
They
found that support is especially high for protecting children
in cars, with 76 percent plus support for a ban against smoking
in cars carrying children, in six surveys since 2005.
International
research shows that the fine particulates inside a smoker's
car can be as high as in a smoky bar room, and much higher
than WHO safety guidelines for air quality and health. Smokefree
car laws have been passed in at least 11 large jurisdictions.
The
review found laws banning smoking in cars containing children
have been passed in: South Australia, Tasmania, New South
Wales, Nova Scotia, Yukon and Ontario.
Five
US states or territories, including California, have also
passed similar laws. In South Australia there was no significant
burden on police resources, with only 125 prosecutions of
drivers in the first year of the new law.
In
recent years studies show significantly increased support
for banning smoking in cars with children, in three Australian
states, New Zealand, Canada, Britain and California, according
to an Otago release.
In
four of these studies (in California, New Zealand, Victoria
and South Australia) there was 90 percent plus public support.
In five surveys in 2005 or since (in California, New Zealand
and Australia), this support from smokers was 77 percent or
more.
This
study was published in Tobacco Control.
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