‘Only a matter of time’ before vaping in cars is banned over accident fears

Vaping e-cigarettes has grown in popularity massively in the past few years, with many choosing to vape instead of smoking traditional cigarettes.

According to Action on Smoking and Health, an estimated 4.3 million people in Great Britain vape, up from around 800,000 a decade ago.

As of August 2022, this was the highest rate ever recorded, with a staggering 8.3 percent growth since the previous year.

But now, experts are calling on the Government to introduce legislation which would aim to cut down on the number of people vaping at the wheel.

Motorists are required to drive with due care and attention at all times, with some arguing that there is no way for drivers to do this when they are vaping.

When vaping, people blow out large plumes of smoke which can obscure vision, as well as potentially causing drowsiness and dizziness.

Tim Alcock, from LeaseCar.uk, said: “It is only a matter of time before we start seeing more fatalities on the road with the current vaping epidemic. 

“There has been growing concern over the effects of vaping, but we do know that there are high levels of nicotine in the devices, which is highly concerning from a driving point of view. 

“E-cigarettes that contain nicotine cause dizziness and lightheadedness, which is highly dangerous, putting both the driver and other road users at risk.”

The legal limit for nicotine in a vape is 2ml, but some disposable vapes have been found to contain more than 50 percent of the legal limit.

Drivers who are not in complete control of their vehicles could receive penalties including an unlimited fine, nine points and a discretionary disqualification.

Mr Alcock added: “We are calling for the Government to make urgent changes to current motoring offences and consider just how dangerous vaping at the wheel is.”

Since October 1, 2015, it has been illegal to smoke a cigarette in a vehicle with anyone under the age of 18 to protect younger people from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

This could result in the driver and the person smoking each receiving a £50 fine and applies to every driver in England and Wales, including those with a provisional licence.

However, the law specifically states that the rules do not apply to e-cigarettes or vaping, drivers who are 17 in the car alone or a convertible car with the roof completely down.

The law only applies to any private vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof, when people have the windows or sunroof open, when the air conditioning is on and when someone sits smoking in the open doorway of a vehicle.

Rule 148 of the Highway Code states that drivers should avoid distractions when driving or riding, including listening to loud music, reading maps, eating or drinking and smoking.