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A ban on smoking in cars carrying children in Wales could be introduced by the autumn.

Ministers have announced that from October 1 people caught smoking in cars will face a £50 on-the-spot fine.

Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford said the ban, which is subject to the approval of Assembly Members, will protect children from the avoidable harms associated with exposure to tobacco smoke, which can lead to a range of chronic diseases.

What does it mean?

The new law would mean it would become illegal to smoke in a private vehicle with a child under 18 inside – but would also be illegal for a driver not to stop others smoking when an under-18 is in the car.

Those that refuse to pay the fine could end up in court – with fines escalating up to £800 – while a person convicted of failing to prevent smoking could be fined up to a maximum of £10,000.

On the spot fines were proposed late last year:

Welsh ministers held a consultation on the proposals to protect under-18s from second-hand smoke last autumn.

Huge public support

The government has said 84% of adults in Wales had agreed smoking should be banned in cars with children in a survey published in July.

There is strong support for the ban:

Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful.

Exposure has been linked to chest infections, asthma, ear problems and cot death in children.

First Minister Carwyn Jones says the ban would help give children the best start in life.

Decision welcomed

The British Lung Foundation has said the move is “a tremendous victory for the thousands of children being exposed to second-hand smoke every week.”

Ministers in Cardiff and London are aiming to ensure bans are introduced in Wales and England simultaneously.

Professor Drakeford said: “Children and young people have the right to breathe clean air and enjoy smoke-free environments.

“Protecting children from exposure to second-hand smoke will help give them the best start in life. Exposure to second-hand smoke is a substantial threat to children’s health; it can leave them vulnerable to a variety of health conditions such as lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, middle ear disease and other serious infections.

“Introducing regulations to stop people smoking in cars carrying children will help us to do this.

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Protecting children

Wales’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruth Hussey said: “Children cannot escape from the toxic chemicals contained in second-hand smoke when travelling in vehicles.

“Changing the law to ban smoking in cars carrying children will protect them from the health harms associated with exposure to second-hand smoke in private vehicles, encourage action by smokers to protect children from second-hand smoke and lead to a reduction in health conditions in children caused by exposure to second-hand smoke.”

In Wales, 15% of children aged 10 and 11 – and 32% of children of smokers – are exposed to second-hand smoke in family cars.

ASH Wales said legislation is likely to “significantly reduce” the levels of exposure.

Standardised packaging

Elen De Lacy, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales Cymru, said: “We are pleased to see the Welsh Government pressing ahead with regulations to prohibit smoking in cars when children are present. As with the smoke-free public places law, this is a popular measure that will largely be self-enforcing.

“Together with the forthcoming regulations on standardised packaging these regulations will help to de-normalise smoking and discourage children from taking up the deadly habit.”

Dr Amy Brown, Programme Director for the MSc in Child Public Health at Swansea University said the ban will help cut the risk of chest infections and asthma in children and sudden infant death syndrome for babies.

She said treating second hand smoke related illnesses in children costs the NHS across the UK around £25m a year.

Third-hand smoke

Dr Brown said: "Over 10,000 children are admitted to hospital each year due to the effects of second hand smoke and banning smoking in cars will help reduce this.

"Even smoking in a car when the children are not in it can have an impact on their health.

"Firstly it can take a couple of hours for smoke to actually clear properly from a car. Secondly we now know that there is such a thing as ‘third hand smoke’ where the particles from the smoke collect on surfaces, particularly soft surfaces, such as car seats.

“They can remain there for months after a cigarette has been smoked and if a child puts their hands all over a seat like children often do, and then puts their hands in their mouth they will be ingesting those harmful particles."