Poms ban ciggies in cars -amusing law issue.

**Toaster** · 29th September 2007, 20:55

Dave Moore in Drivetalk | 3:33 pm 29 September 2007
The UK got a new Highway Road Code book this week and among the 29 new rules of the road issued by the Department for Transport is one that says that smoking behind the wheel is illegal and dangerous.

Following the establishment of a recent law that has banned smoking in public places, it was thought that a driving smoker would at least have their car as a refuge in which they could draw on a fag or two.

Not any more. Drivers can now be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention if they smoke at the wheel.

Under the new Road Code, having a drag while driving is a breach of the rules of the road and is now classed officially as a ‘distraction’.

According to the book, if a driver crashes their car while smoking they can be charged with driving without due care and attention, which means they can incur a fine of up to NZ$7500, and three to nine penalty points on their licence - the maximum there is 12 points.

Having already banned cellphone use and eating and drinking behind the wheel, the UK authorities’ fag ban was probably a long time coming. After all, what would you rather drop into your lap while driving: a phone, a burger, a latte or a burning cigarette?

Meanwhile, our own authorities struggle with a law to prevent cellphone use while driving and I imagine cigarettes will only get their own ban in New Zealand when some MP or other’s car catches fire.

(I guess smoking while riding is a bit difficult and would burn the ol' ciggie up a tad quick!!!)

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th September 2007, 21:03

Originally Posted by Toaster

Not any more. Drivers can now be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention if they smoke at the wheel.

Under the new Road Code, having a drag while driving is a breach of the rules of the road and is now classed officially as a ‘distraction’.

Need distractions be official?
Does being the designated sober driver or carrying kids in the car now carry risk of prosecution?

**jafar** · 29th September 2007, 23:58

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Need distractions be official?
Does being the designated sober driver or carrying kids in the car now carry risk of prosecution?

If they are going to have a charge of distraction , how do they get on with a leggy blonde in a mini skirt ? I'll bet that would cause way more distraction than smoking behind the wheel

**sunhuntin** · 30th September 2007, 15:48

my partner smokes on the bike... i got good at dodging ash and sparks when playing pillion, lol.

**davereid** · 30th September 2007, 17:50

They better ban police 2-way radios too - same as a cellphone except its not handsfree. So you gotta hold on to it, just like a ciggy, a bottle, or a chick in a short skirt.

**Grahameeboy** · 30th September 2007, 17:53

I thought it was illegal here to drag and drive

**The Lone Rider** · 30th September 2007, 18:02

Reminds me of a joke about when someone pulls out a cig and starts smoking in your car and you are like "HEY! What are you doing!" and they go "Relax.. I have the window open."

Next time you are in their car you unzip and get it out and go for it and when they, quite naturally, go "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" you go "Relax, I have the window open".

**bmz2** · 30th September 2007, 18:20

well ,no smoking, no sex while driving, no drinking , no music, no 18 year old blonde with short mini , lets all get dressed in grey and catch buses and we can have a little number on our chests, and micro chip inserted in our asses

**ZeroIndex** · 30th September 2007, 18:58

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Need distractions be official?
Does being the designated sober driver or carrying kids in the car now carry risk of prosecution?

You mean like all those soccer moms in their SUVs? Please... for the sake of EVERYONES safety... take them off the road

**craigs288** · 1st October 2007, 11:42

Who are we to criticise? What do we know?

Naturally, it would be up to the Popo to use their awesome and arbitrary powers of (in)discretion to decide whether or not your cigarette was a distraction on any given day, in any given situation.

Haven't met the daily ticket quota? Then a cigarette is a distraction.
Have met the daily ticket quota? Then a cigarette is not a distraction.

Could be jealousy. They don't like to see other people driving around with a 'fag' hanging out of their mouths.

Rant, rant, rant.......

**ManDownUnder** · 1st October 2007, 11:46

On one hand it's STUPID. If they're going to do that then they need to ban anything that could be a distraction, ids, advertisements, ciggies, radios, brightly coloured clothing etc etc etc.

On the smoking point - brilliant. Anything to keep smoke out of my life.

**Devil** · 1st October 2007, 11:50

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

On the smoking point - brilliant. Anything to keep smoke out of my life.

Ditto, and the cigarette butts off the road and outta my eyes. You only need to stop at a set of traffic lights to see the disgusting pile of butts on the ground.

**sels1** · 1st October 2007, 11:54

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

On the smoking point - brilliant. Anything to keep smoke out of my life.

And live ciggy butts tossed out of the window that land on the biker behind. One of my pet hates. Have stopped and had a chat to a couple of drivers about that...

**devnull** · 1st October 2007, 11:55

Originally Posted by bmz2

well ,no smoking, no sex while driving, no drinking , no music, no 18 year old blonde with short mini , lets all get dressed in grey and catch buses and we can have a little number on our chests, and micro chip inserted in our asses

Oooh... man, is Helen gonna be pissed with you.

They weren't gonna announce those policies 'til closer to the election

**The Pastor** · 1st October 2007, 11:56

actaully i think its now illgal to smoke and drive in nz? law came in 1 or 2 years ago? I don't think its heavily enforced? Or maybe it was a radio hoax, as i heard it on the cock.