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Smoke-free Living |
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- 4.7% of the Toronto population reported being exposed to second hand smoke at homes and private vehicles almost every day.
- More than half of the children aged eight to 12 years old are exposed to second hand smoke in cars.
- If somebody smokes in a car, everybody smokes. Second hand smoke is even more dangerous inside the small air space in your car because the smoke is more concentrated.
- Opening a window is not enough. The wind blows the smoke around the car to the backseat, where children likely to be sitting.
- Using air fresheners to get rid of the cigarette smell is NOT a solution. They do not remove the toxic chemicals. They only cover the smell. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke are absorbed into the upholstery and carpet of the car and cannot be removed
- Carbon dioxide, a harmful chemical found in second hand smoke, can build up to dangerous levels inside the car, affecting the driver's ability to stay alert while driving.
Ontario passed a ban on smoking in cars with kids under 16 on January 21st, 2009
Any person - driver or passenger, who fails to comply with the new law is guilty of an offence. The person holding lighted tobacco would be subject to a set fine of $250.
Going beyond the law..make your car completely smoke-free
- Make the decision to ban smoking in your car at all time
- Ask anyone riding in your car not to smoke
- Schedule frequent stops on long trips. Allow smokers to take the smoke outside
- Remove the ashtray and lighter - avoid temptation
- Make cigarettes less accessible by locking them in the trunk
- Celebrate each smoke-free drive
Benefits of a smoke-free vehicle:
- Fresher, cleaner air
- Higher resale value
- Less distraction while driving
- No risk of cigarette burns or marks
- No ashes or cigarette packages to clean up
More facts:
- Smoking while driving takes your attention away from the road and can lead to car crashes. Stay focused while driving and stay safe.
- Opening the window does not protect passengers from the dangerous chemicals of second-hand smoke.
- Children are less likely to smoke if they are not exposed to others smoking.
- Second-hand smoke contains the same 4,000+ chemicals that are inhaled by a smoker. About 50 of these chemicals are associated with, or are known to cause cancer.
- Some of the toxic and cancer causing agents found in second-hand smoke include hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde and benzene.
- Children's lungs are small and still growing. Second-hand smoke stops proper lung growth in children.
- Children breathe faster and inhale more second-hand smoke than adults.
Last updated May 2010
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