While several jurisdictions have banned smoking in cars when children are present, New Delhi's new ban goes further, and prohibits any smoking while driving. "This could set a precedent which other jurisdictions might follow," suggests professor John Banzhaf, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). New Delhi banned cigarette smoking in cars, along with cell phone use, because using either product can be distracting while driving. "Anything that distracts the attention of drivers is dangerous," said New Delhi's traffic commissioner Qamar Ahmed, welcoming the ruling, which goes into effect April 9. It carries a fine of 1,500 rupees ($32), a hefty fine by local standards. Offenders caught more than five times would have their license revoked. But, notes Banzhaf, there is an added and very important danger in smoking while driving which does not occur from other activities such a using a cell phone, eating a candy bar, etc. This suggests why a smoking ban may be even more effective in preventing needless traffic accidents than a ban on driving while using cell phones, eating a candy bar, etc. Automobile accidents are caused not only by the distractions of smoking itself -- including finding and lighting the cigarette -- but also when a hot ash or a lit cigarette suddenly falls into the driver's lap or other area of his car. All too often, the smoking driver panics because of a fear of a burn or fire, and desperately tries to locate and then put out the ignition source without first pulling over. "The panic caused by this sudden and very threatening event can easily both distract the driver while snapping his judgment and thereby cause an unnecessary accident -- something unlikely to occur if a driver were to drop a cell phone or candy bar," says Banzhaf. Thus New Delhi's ban could prevent not only accidents caused by the ordinary distractions of smoking, but also by the panic reaction when a lit cigarette or hot ash is suddenly dropped.. A ban on smoking in cars is hardly unprecedented, says Banzhaf, noting that two states and several cities already prohibit the practice when children are present. Moreover, about a dozen states prohibit smoking when foster children are in the car, and in several dozen states judges have issued thousands of orders prohibiting smoking in cars when children are present to protect youngsters involved in custody disputes. "At a time when many commuters cannot smoke because they ride in car pools or use public transport, when smokers traveling long distances frequently cannot smoke for long periods of time while flying, and where more and more jurisdictions are banning smoking outdoors including even on sidewalks, a ban on smoking while driving doesn't seem as unreasonable as it once might," suggests Banzhaf. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

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