Canadians want smoking ban in cars with kids: poll

TORONTO (Reuters Life!) - Most Canadians think it's wrong to smoke while in a car with a child, a poll showed on Wednesday, and more than two-thirds of smokers agree.

The national poll conducted for the Canadian Cancer Society showed 82 percent of Canadians and 69 percent of smokers would support a ban on smoking while driving with minors.

"These poll results clearly tell us that Canadians are ready for action to protect the health of children," said Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst for the society.

Studies show second-hand smoke is linked to the deaths of more than 1,000 Canadians every year and exposure affects children and infants more severely than adults.

The latest poll favoring butting out when you buckle up follows a number of moves across Canada to make it illegal to smoke when there is a child in the car.
 
In late 2007, Ontario legislator David Orazietti introduced a bill to ban smoking in vehicles with children. Around the same time, a similar bill was introduced in British Columbia.
 
But in December 2007, the eastern province of Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction to adopt legislation banning smoking in a car with anyone under the age of 19.

Laws banning smoking in vehicles while a minor is present have been passed in U.S. states including California, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as Puerto Rico and areas of Australia.