New law introduced regarding smoking in cars carrying children

As of October 1st this year, drivers in the UK will be fined £50 if caught smoking in a vehicle which is carrying children.

The regulation, which stipulates drivers are forbidden from lighting up in a car with child passengers, was passed in the House of Commons after 342 MPs voted in favour of the new legislation.

The law does not apply to anyone travelling alone or in a convertible with the top down.

The new law follows one already in place in Wales, and Scotland are said to be considering following suit.

According to the British Lung Foundation, over 400,000 children are exposed to second hand smoke, which contains more than 4000 chemicals, in vehicles every week.