Vaping in the car - worth knowing

Driving a car is a special activity that requires a lot of attention and caution from us if we want to drive safely. Smoking or e-cigarette use can disrupt this, which is also covered by laws that prohibit us from doing so in some cases. So what does smoking in a car look like? When can you and when not and how do classic tobacco products and e-cigarettes affect the condition of our vehicle? We'll look at all of these issues in this article.

Cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the car and the law

Before we get into the practicalities, let's find out what the laws regarding the use of cigarettes in the car while driving tell us.

Irish law, unlike many other EU countries, does not prohibit smoking in a car. The only exception to this rule is the presence of passengers under the age of 18 in the car. Drivers are responsible for passengers in their car, therefore smoking in the vehicle is prohibited in the presence of minors.

What does it mean? Simply put, if we are driving a passenger car which is our private vehicle, smoking is not prohibited in it. So if we drive a passenger car, using an e-cigarette or a classic tobacco product, we will not be fined. It is worth mentioning here that the regulations define a passenger car as a vehicle with up to nine seats. If there are more of them, the car ceases to be a passenger vehicle by law and becomes a bus, and therefore is subject to different regulations.

The situation is different in vehicles that are intended for business purposes.

It is forbidden to smoke tobacco products, including the smoking of innovative tobacco products, and to smoke electronic cigarettes in:

• premises of workplaces
• means of public passenger transport and at passenger service facilities

Pursuant to this provision, a company car should be considered a "workplace room", and therefore smoking in it or the use of e-cigarettes is not allowed. If we break this prohibition, we will face more serious consequences. If you smoke in the workplace, you may be fined EUR 3,000 for each person found to be a smoker.

Smoking in the car and practice

As can be seen from the above analysis of the regulations, we are generally safe for smoking or using e-cigarettes or tobacco heaters, as long as we are driving a private car. However, is it safe? Let's consider this for a moment.

Tobacco products and attention on the road

The greatest danger associated with the use of tobacco products in a car comes from the carelessness that we expose ourselves to by performing more than one activity at a time. The cigarette may fall out, and the heat may burn us, which may translate into safety, both for us and other road users. If we use an e-cigarette, the fact is that it will not burn us, but it can still fall out and get even under the car's pedals. Therefore, the safest option will be to simply take a break on the road, when we feel the need to reach for a cigarette, because only this will guarantee us an appropriate level of safety.

Driving and nicotine

The nicotine found in tobacco products is also important for our safety. It should be remembered that it is a highly addictive and dangerous substance, so it does not remain neutral to our behavior. In small doses, it can wake us up, but the more nicotine enters our bloodstream, the greater the chance of decreased concentration, dizziness and other potentially dangerous symptoms.

Smoking in the car and the condition of the vehicle

The above examples show us that it is better for our health to refrain from smoking while driving, even if we are allowed to do so by law. The influence of tobacco smoke on the condition of the vehicle is also important. Smoked cigarettes give off an intense smell that can stay in our upholstery for a very long time and significantly reduce the comfort associated with moving the car. In addition, we can inattentively burn something, destroying the interior of the car and lowering its value.

In this context, e-cigarettes fare slightly better, however, it is worth noting that the glycerin evaporating from the e-liquid deposits on the windows and reduces our visibility. Of course, the final decision is always up to the user of the tobacco products. The above text is not legal or medical advice, so it is worth exploring the topic of the impact of smoking on road safety and make an independent, responsible decision in this regard.