A Smokers Safe Haven
A Smokers Safe-Haven?
You have seen the commercials and the ads explaining the risks of smoking and the countless articles about states looking to ban smoking in all public places. Today smoking is not allowed in bowling alleys, bars, and even some parks. In fact there are hospitals, colleges, and various other campuses that have banned smoking on their premises.
Let's examine why the government would even consider passing a smoking ban in public places. Perhaps, the idea of a smoking ban is to protect the health of the general public. Not necessarily to protect the health of the smoker, but the health of the non-smokers exposed to the second-hand and third-hand smoke. In turn it is believed that the reduction in smoking related deaths and illnesses will decrease the cost of healthcare. Maybe
Today, it seems the only place left for smokers to legally inhale that nicotine filled smoke is inside their cars.
Everywhere you look while driving around town people in their cars are lighting up and getting their nicotine fix while on their way to the doctor, grocery store, or to pick up the kids. So what are the dangers of smoking in the car?
First, lighting up a cigarette while driving takes away one's concentration from the road just as much as talking on a cell phone, drinking coffee, eating, etc But what happens when hot coffee gets spilled in your lap? Is it not the same consequence as the 1000 degree red hot ember that burns through your pants and the upholstery after landing in your lap while you are driving 65 mph down the freeway?
We can look at the statistics that show how distractions like these cause accidents but what is the point? States have banned the use of cell phones while driving but does that stop everyone from doing it? Do the seat belt laws make people where their seat belts? The answer is no! As long as Johnny Law is not around, these habits will be practiced until they start building cars with technology that inhibits these behaviors.
What are the health implications? We know that there is a relation between smoking and various types of cancer. However, people still smoke while suffering from COPD and lung cancer. So the big question is would a ban on smoking in a car while driving modify the smoking population's behavior?
Who suffers from smoking in a car? First, the smoker is intentionally ingesting the toxins from a lit cigarette. Upon exhalation, the passengers get to inhale the second hand smoke whether the smoker's window is up or down. But wait, that is not all. The remnant smoke from constant smoking inside the vehicle becomes ingrained in the upholstery fabric and clothing of the smoker and non-smoker. Two for the choice of one!
That's right, smoking is a choice. Getting into a car of someone that smokes is also a choice. What about the non-smoking passengers that do not have a choice? Is it not irritating to see a woman or a man smoking in their car with young children in the back seat and all the windows of the car rolled up? The damage to a developing child's lungs, heart, and brain seems like a good enough reason to not smoke in the car. Perhaps this behavior falls under the child endangerment laws. We will let the courts decide this.
Smoking in a car has moral, health, and possibly future legal implications. However, the automobile is the only safe-haven for a smoker to make the choice to smoke as it is considered personal property similar to one's home. As of now, the car and the home are the only places that are OK to smoke. However, discretion should be practiced when it comes to the proximity of non-smokers, young and old.
