The vast majority of motorists do not have confidence that a ban on smoking in cars – which is due to come into effect this Thursday – will be affectively enforced, the RAC has found.
According to the motoring organisation, 92% of motorists do not think the new law, which will make it illegal to smoke in a car when any occupant is under 18 years old, will be policed properly.
However, awareness of the new law is high, with 90% of the 1750 members surveyed saying they knew about the new white paper, while 50% were aware that it is coming into effect this week.
Just over four in 10 (41%) admitted they have no idea when the new law takes effect, however. The remaining 9% chose other dates – such as 1 January – for when they thought the law would come into force.
“It is worrying that nine in 10 motorists have concerns about the extent to which the new law is likely to be enforced,” said RAC spokesman, Simon Williams.
“This is perhaps well-founded as traffic police officer numbers have fallen by nearly a quarter between 2010 and 2014 across forces in England and Wales, so it is hard to see how people flouting the law are going to be caught.”
Williams added: “The new ban joins a raft of other laws that have been introduced in recent years such as making it illegal to undertake or hog the middle lane of a motorway. But without sufficient enforcement there is a real danger that these laws will quickly be forgotten by a large proportion of the motoring population.”
Motorists found to be breaking the new law will be subject to a £50 on-the-spot fine.
