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UK auction house backs anti-smoking legislation
Kids' health is vital, although it's not the only reason to put out that cigarette, says spokesmanLegislation to ban smoking in cars carrying children is being debated in Britain's House of Lords.
Anti-tobacco campaigners hope that the bill will be passed swiftly, with the British Medical Association (BMA) declaring that smoke in a car's cabin can reach 11 times the level of toxicity found in a typical public bar. It's old news in Australia, where most states enacted similar legislation as long ago as 2007.
While it's imperative for the sake of children's wellbeing that parents and others don't smoke in cars, Tim Naylor, of British Car Auctions, offers the view that there are plenty of sound reasons for stepping out of the car before lighting up, even if kids aren't on board.
“If drivers aren’t motivated by the health of their passengers, perhaps they will be by the diminishing health of their finances. Lighting up inside a car seriously devalues the vehicle for resale.”
Naylor observed that “motorists should avoid having a cigarette in their car, especially if they intend to sell it in the near future. This will avoid the lingering smell of cigarettes in the interior, as well as eliminate the risk of scorch marks on the upholstery or dash. All of these things will put buyers off, even if they smoke themselves.”
“Presentation is one of the top factors influencing the price of used cars. So if a car is more like an ashtray on wheels, chances are buyers will move on to find one that looks and smells fresh as a daisy,” Naylor added.
Clearly too, if a car's presentation is a major hurdle to be overcome, there'll be a smaller pool of prospective buyers, which will inevitably make the car harder to sell in a reasonable timeframe – even if it is priced to fit buyers' expectations.
In recent decades, social disapproval of smoking has led to car companies deleting the old-fashioned cigarette lighter in favour of the cheaper 12-Volt power outlet, which can be used to recharge a host of plug-in portable accessories.
The automotive industry's response is part of a broader push to reduce smoking rates throughout western nations in particular. In Britain, with the latest legislation pending, Baroness Sheila Hollins, of the board of science for the BMA has welcomed the proposed law as “an important first step in reducing tobacco harm by restricting the prevalence of second-hand smoke in private vehicles.”
Picture courtesy of Alexander Menk/Wikimedia Commons
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Written byTung Nguyen
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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