Smoking while driving is not only dangerous because of second-hand smoke for passengers, but also because the driver could be distracted. — Reuters
BERLIN: In many countries around the world, talking on your phone while driving without a hands-free device can lead to steep fines and penalty points on your licence – and the legislation is only getting stricter.
In Germany, for example, briefly looking at a smartphone in your hand to check the time or taking it out of your pocket because it's uncomfortable are also punishable by law.
Even so, other activities are still allowed: A big bite out of a sandwich, a long sip of water to quench your thirst, operating your GPS on the dashboard or taking a long drag off a cigarette don't usually bring the driver any legal trouble.
But even if these are all permitted, are they still safe?
For some safety experts, smoking at the wheel is a particularly contentious issue.
"There is no outright smoking ban in Germany," says Anja Smetanin, of Auto Club Europa (ACE), "but it would be a good thing. Child passengers suffer a lot from second-hand smoke."
Other countries have already recognised this and have adopted corresponding laws.
In Greece and France, for example, smoking is banned in cars with passengers under the age of 12. "In the UK, the ban even applies to children and adolescents up to the age of 18," explains Smetanin.
In Italy, smoking is also prohibited when a pregnant person is in the vehicle, adds Christian Janeczek of the German Lawyers' Association.
However, smoking while driving is not only dangerous because of second-hand smoke for passengers, but also because the driver could be distracted.
"It's especially dangerous when a driver lights a cigarette and turns his eyes away from the road," says Smetanin.
Smoking embers that fall on floor mats or seat upholstery are also a fire hazard. "In an attempt to rescue their car's upholstery from more damage and extinguish any smoke, many drivers have lost control of their vehicle," she says.
In these cases, full liability insurance still applies. "The victim gets full coverage and the smoker won't have recourse to challenge this," says Kathrin Jarosch from the German Insurance Association. The same applies for a driver who is eating or drinking.
Many heavy smokers have a hard time laying off cigarettes on long trips. Here, Smetanin advises taking more frequent breaks at rest areas. Drivers could additionally, or as an alternative, use nicotine patches or chewing gum.
However, if you stop at a rest area with a petrol station, remember that embers can quickly cause a fire.
Since flammable vapours could go well beyond the actual filling station, smoking is usually banned for the entire service station area, says Janeczek, "unless a smoking area has been established by the operator."
Just a spark can also cause major problems in fields, meadows and forests depending on the season.
"If you smoke, go ahead, but you should not throw cigarettes out the car window for the sake of convenience," says Carsten Pix, from the German Fire Brigade Association.
In dry conditions, small roadside pebble fires are most often caused by discarded cigarette butts. "These are the black areas that you often see on the sides of the roads," says Pix.
But large forest fires have also been triggered by cigarettes, and improper disposal of butts is not a trivial offence.
"Those who throw a cigarette out of the car could be guilty of unlawful waste disposal," says Janeczek, which is usually accompanied by a modest fine.
If, however, a fire occurs, this could imply negligent arson, which, as Janeczek notes, "is punishable by a large fine or even imprisonment."
