UK doctors have advocated the banning of all smoking in vehicles to protect people from the dangers of second hand smoke.
Research was referenced that showed that toxin levels within a car can be up to 23 times higher than that of a smoky bar. But a cross-party group of MPs and peers have said that a non-legislative solution should be reached.
The All Parliamentary Group On Smoking and Health have said that a ban on all smoking within vehicles could be ‘counter productive’, as it made more sense to build a consensus on the issue before such radical measures were put in place.
They are calling for a consultation on the issue to ascertain whether or not it would be better to instate an outright ban, or would make more sense to initiate an educational plan to increase awareness on the issue.
A similar strategy has been unfurled in Wales, but initiators have said that should this fail to bring about significant results, a ban could still be put in place within three years.
At the present time, neither Scotland nor England are considering legislative action.
Doctors have said that an outright ban, even without passengers at the time, would be the most efficient way of protecting children and non-smoking adults.
They highlighted the importance of this issue in regards to children, commenting that they were more at risk due to their undeveloped immune systems, and the fact that they inhaled more of the fumes.
Second hand smoke has been attributed to the development of a number of conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome and asthma.