Strong support in Rochdale for smoke free cars for children

Danielle Faugel (left) with her son Zackary and sister Amy Faugel

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Rochdale residents are supporting a ban on smoking in cars carrying children, to protect them from second-hand smoke.

The support comes as a historic parliamentary vote took place this week which means from October 2015, anyone lighting up in a car with a child under 18 present, will be breaking the law and could be fined.

Secondhand (or passive) smoke from cigarettes can be responsible for a range of health problems including bronchitis, asthma and glue ear, and is especially dangerous to children.

A snapshot street survey commissioned by Manchester-based Tobacco Free Futures showed that residents in Rochdale underestimated the dangers of second hand smoke including:

• 100% underestimating the number of chemicals in smoke (approx 4,500 chemicals)
• 83% underestimating how long secondhand smoke lingers in an enclosed space (6 hours)
• 68% underestimating how much of second-hand smoke is invisible (80%)

Of the 50 Rochdale residents surveyed, 94% said smoking in cars with children present should be banned. In the North West a YouGov poll reported 79% agreed with the measure.

Just under half of Rochdale residents (44%) were aware that a law change was coming.

Sisters Danielle Faugel, 19 and Amy Faugel 23, both from Rochdale support smokefree cars for children:

Danielle said: “We aren’t smokers and don’t let family members who do smoke go near our children. Children shouldn’t put up with others smoking around them. That’s why we support smokefree cars. We were not surprised at the damage of second hand smoke in cars.”

Mohammed Asalam from Falinge Park, Rochdale also supports the measure: “I used to smoke until 2003. I realised how I was harming my family’s health so I’m glad I quit, and it saves money too! I support smoke free cars one hundred percent. It is so harmful for children and other people. I was not surprised at the damage of second hand smoke in cars. I knew it was damaging, but didn’t realise until I stopped smoking how bad it is.”

To raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke in Rochdale and Greater Manchester, Tobacco Free Futures along with the council have launched an online video featuring stars from ‘Peep Show’ and ‘Hollyoaks’. The video coincides with the national Public Health England Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign, also launching this week.

Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of Tobacco Free Futures which led the campaign for smoke free cars in the North West added: “We have campaigned for smokefree cars for five years, and we hope the change in the law along with the extra information and support available will lead to healthier choices by people across Greater Manchester to keep their cars smokefree. Smoky cars, packed full of toxic tobacco chemicals, are especially deadly to children because they have smaller lungs, faster breathing and less developed immune systems.”