Borders MSP Jim Hume is proposing a member’s bill in Scotland to ban passive smoking in cars with children.
Australia, Canada, South Africa and other countries have already passed legislation banning smoking in vehicles while children are present.
Mr Hume, announcing a consultation this week ahead of his proposal, explained: “Despite the volume of smoke-free legislation that has taken place over the past decade or so [in Scotland], private vehicles remain one of the few places where children can legally be exposed to passive smoking.”
The Liberal Democrat MSP for South of Scotland cited research carried out by the Royal College of Physicians which revealed that children exposed to passive smoking are more likely to start smoking than those growing up in smoke-free environments.
The research also indicated that the negative health effects associated with a child’s exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke include increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, coughing and wheezing, asthma and lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
He added: “Scotland faces an enormous challenge in changing our relationship with tobacco. By banning adults from smoking in their cars whilst children are present, we can build a fairer society which gives every child the best start in life.
“It doesn’t seem fair that children should suffer from passive smoking. Nowadays attitudes towards smoking have changed dramatically. Even one child being affected by an illness they didn’t ask for due to passive smoking is a scar on our society.
“Scotland has led the way in efforts to curb the scourge of tobacco in our communities. Following on from other ground-breaking initiatives such as the ban of smoking in public places, I hope that people of all parties and none will contribute to the consultation.”