No Smoking Ban in Cars with Children

What is the ban?

It is illegal to smoke in a car (or other vehicles) with anyone under 18 present.

Is there a fine?

Both the driver and the smoker could be fined £50. The law applies to every driver in England and Wales, including those aged 17 and those with a provisional driving licence.

The law does not apply if the driver is 17 years old and is on their own in the car.

When was the ban introduced?

1^st October 2015.

Why is there a ban?

Every time a child breathes in second hand smoke, they breathe in thousands of chemicals.  This puts them at risk of serious conditions including meningitis, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia.  It can also make asthma worse.  Second hand smoke is worse in a confined space, such as a car.  This ban protects our children.

Is the ban on every car?

This applies to any private vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof. It still applies if people have the windows or sunroof open, have the air conditioning on, or if they sit in the open doorway of the vehicle. The law won’t apply to a convertible car with the roof completely down.

Are there any exceptions?

• The law does not apply if the driver is 17 years old and is on their own in the car.
• The law won’t apply to a convertible car with the roof completely down.

For more information, visit GOV.UK.