Ban on Smoking in Vehicles Where Children are Present:
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear hazier than they are

Smoking in an enclosed space, like your vehicle, means that anyone present breathes in a lot of unfiltered second-hand smoke.  Smokers only directly inhale about 30 seconds worth of smoke from a burning cigarette and the other 11 ½ minutes of smoke stays in the air for everyone else, including your kids, to breathe with no chance of escape. 

In a 2008 survey regarding attitude of Manitobans to smoking completed by MANTRA, 79% of the respondents said that they would support a ban on smoking in vehicles where children under the age of 18 are present.  Of the people surveyed, 56% said that they had smoked a cigarette at one point in their life.

The Province of Manitoba is currently working on implementing legislation that will make it illegal for people to smoke in their vehicles when children under the age of 16 are present.

What you can do

• Establish a no smoking policy in your vehicle by encouraging passengers to take it outside.
• Remove ashtrays from your vehicle.
• If you’re a smoker, clean your vehicle interior as a fresh start.
• Consider quitting.  Your continued smoking will affect you and your family now and in the future.
• Read Health Canada’s Make Your Home and Car Smoke Free for more helpful tips.
• Contact your MLA to show your support for this legislation. 

For more information:

• Attitudes of Manitobans to Smoking and Extending the Ban on Cigarette Use (2008)
• Bill5:  The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Promoting Safer and Healthier Conditions in Motor Vehicles)