Plea for smokefree cars backed in North

HEALTH HAZARD: More than 350 New Zealanders die each year due to exposure of second-hand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. PHOTO/FILE

Thousands of Northlanders want smoking banned in vehicles when children are on board and will ask the Government to introduce a ban similar to one in Britain.

New rules in Britain will ban smoking in cars with children on board from October 1 and will apply to drivers and passengers in any "enclosed vehicle".

More than 2000 Northlanders have signed a petition requesting a Government ban on smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 18 years, and the petition will be presented to Parliament asking that the Government introduce such a ban.

"Over a quarter - 26.72 per cent - of Northland's Year 10 students are still travelling in cars where people continue to smoke," said Bridget Rowse, Smokefree adviser for the Northland District Health Board. Second-hand smoke was the leading environmental cause of death in this country, Ms Rowse said. More than 350 New Zealanders died each year due to exposure to second-hand smoke. There was no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

"All parents want the best for their children. This petition gives parents a voice letting Government know there is a simple solution to protect the health of our children, making cars smokefree at all times," Jim Callaghan, health promotion officer for the Cancer Society Northland, said.

Throughout Smokefree May, Smokefree organisations in Northland collected signatures on a petition calling for a ban on smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 18 years. The petition was a way to inform parents of the real dangers posed by smoking around their children in the confined space of a car. The petition proved to be popular and continued to be promoted through June and July.

"Banning smoking in cars when children are present would be a significant step in protecting children against the harms of second-hand smoke. It sends a very clear message that the seriousness of exposure to second-hand smoke as a health issue should not be underestimated," said Cathy Cherrington, Health Promotion Manager for Te Hiku Hauora.

"Children and babies are unable to escape from the poisons contained in cigarette smoke when confined in a car with a smoker."

The Smokefree Cars petition will be presented to Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox in Kaitaia on Wednesday, and she will then present it to the Government.

The presentation of the petition falls on the eve of the launch of the national STOPtober campaign and eve of new law in Britain.

"The combination of enormous community support from both smokers and non-smokers shows that it is timely for the Government to consider a ban on smoking in cars when children are present," Ms Rowse said.

"We are confident any legislative change in this area will be largely self-enforcing, and welcomed by the community. Several laws already exist to regulate the car environment with the safety of children in mind, including seatbelt use and special fittings for child passengers.

"Eliminating second-hand smoke in cars when children are present is a natural extension of this."

Second-hand smoke kills about 350 New Zealanders every year.