Driving change

New Zealand is planning to ban vaping and tobacco smoking in vehicles when people under 18 are present, according to a story in The New Zealand Herald quoting the associate health minister Jenny Salesa.

The ban would apply to all vehicles and whether they are parked or on the move.

“Public education and social marketing campaigns over many years have had some impact, but the rate of reduction in children exposed to smoking in vehicles is slowing,” Salesa said. “It is now time to do more by legislating.”

Salesa said that she expected the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 to be changed by the end of this year so that police would be able to use their discretion about whether to give warnings, refer people to stop-smoking support services, or issue infringement fees of NZ$50.

The focus of the ban is said to be on education and changing social norms – not on issuing infringement notices; so the legislation will be backed up with what is described as a new and innovative public education and social marketing effort.

“First and foremost, this change is about protecting children,” said Salesa. “However, it is also part of the Government’s commitment to achieving Smokefree 2025.

“Too many New Zealand children, particularly Māori and Pacific children, are exposed to second-hand smoke in the vehicles they usually travel in.

“Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke due to their smaller lungs, higher respiratory rate and immature immune systems.

“Second-hand smoke accumulates in vehicles, even with the windows open. It reaches much higher levels than in homes.”

The story said there was likely to be strong support for the move because several surveys had shown that about 90 percent of people support the idea of a ban on smoking in cars with children present.