Is there public support for banning smoking in motor vehicles?

In Australia and elsewhere, the evidence on adverse health effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has resulted in legislation restricting smoking in enclosed public places and most workplaces. While there is considerable momentum to restrict smoking voluntarily in Australian homes,¹ adults and children continue to be exposed to ETS in motor vehicles.²,³ Advocacy to promote smoke‐free cars when children are on board began at least as far back as 1994 in Australia,⁴ and in 1995 the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council recommended such a ban.⁵ Attention to this issue has increased recently following calls by the Australian Medical Association Western Australia, with an increasingly favourable view of bans in the media. Enforcement of legislation banning smoking in vehicles would be far easier than enforcing such legislation in homes, following precedents such as the policing of seat belt, baby restraints, and mobile phone use in cars. Banning smoking in vehicles is justified not only from a health perspective, but also from a road safety perspective as smoking is associated with increased risk of motor vehicle injury and death.⁶,⁷,⁸

To assess Western Australians' support for banning smoking in vehicles, data were collected from Perth metropolitan residents aged 25–54 years who participated in surveys evaluating the impact of anti‐tobacco campaigns. Interviews were conducted via computer assisted telephone interviewing, using random digit dialling to select households. The sample consisted of 205 non‐smokers and 200 smokers/recent quitters.

Respondents were asked whether, if supported by a public education campaign, they were in favour of, against, or had no opinion either way for: (1) banning smoking in vehicles when children under 18 years are in the vehicle; (2) banning smoking in vehicles when there are any passengers in the vehicle; and (3) a total ban on smoking in vehicles.

There was strong support for banning smoking in vehicles when children under 18 are present, and this was significantly higher than for “any passengers” in the vehicle (smokers: 80% v 42%, p  =  0.000; non‐smokers: 87% v 62%, p  =  0.000). Support for a total ban on smoking in vehicles was 24% among smokers and 49% among non‐smokers (p  =  0.000).

Data in this study and others⁹,¹⁰ suggest that bans on smoking in vehicles are likely to gain community support when applied to children under 18 being present in the vehicle. It will be interesting to observe whether support for any form of ban increases as the community adapts to further restrictions on smoking in public places. While educational approaches are important, legislative options are worthy of consideration and debate.