Car smoking ban to be introduced – Fairrent responds

Government set to introduce law which would outlaw smoking in cars when children are present

Fair Rent, a car and van hire company in the South East of England, has commented on news that MPs have voted in favour of a proposed smoking ban in cars where children are present. The ban, which will see the Children and Families Bill amended, will prevent individuals in England from smoking in a vehicle if a child is also in the car.

The Labour-led plan was backed by a total of 376 while only 107 MPs opposed the proposed law change. A ban on smoking in cars carrying children was also opposed by Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, and a number of leading Tory ministers.

The proposed law change sparked controversy, with MPs on both sides of the debate arguing the merits of individual freedom and public health.

Health minister Jane Ellison suggested that the bans success would not be measured by legal statistics but instead by its impact on reducing second hand smoke exposure.

“In the event that legislation is to be brought in to stop smoking in cars carrying children, we should not measure success by the number of enforcement actions. We should measure success by the reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke.

“The Government will listen very carefully to what Parliament has to say on the important principle as to whether the Government should have the power to legislate to prevent smoking in cars when children are present.”

Luciana Berger, shadow health minister, also said that children shouldn’t be subjected to second-hand smoke.

“If we know beyond doubt that passive smoking in an enclosed space can do serious harm to a person’s health, and that hundreds of thousands of children are being subjected to this every week... should we act and do something or do we stand by and do nothing? We say we cannot afford to act.”

Fair Rent, a prominent car hire company in Chingford and Enfield, regularly comments on breaking industry news. A spokesperson for the company believes that a ban on smoking in cars with children onboard would be a good thing.

“A ban on smoking in cars with children passengers should absolutely be brought in. Children have a right not to be subjected to second hand smoke. The idea that individual freedom would somehow be curtailed by this ban makes little sense, unless you presuppose that only adults have rights.

“We’ve had thousands of customers over the years, many of them smokers, and they seem to manage to not smoke in our vehicles. We appreciate that driving can be stressful for a lot of people but if you’re driving with children in the car it’s easy enough, if you’re craving a cigarette that much, to pull over some place and have a cigarette outside of the car.”

 Fair Rent offers a number of competitively priced, beautiful cars and vans for hire. If you’re in need of a quality car, whether for half a day or for a week, Fair Rent can help. Visit the Fair Rent website at www.fairrent.co.uk to find out more.