Drivers may be banned from smoking at the wheel

A smoking ban for drivers is to be considered by the Department of Health in a bid to cut the number of deaths from crashes.

Road safety officers from councils around the country are to meet transport officials to discuss a ban on smoking while at the wheel. A similar ban on using a mobile phone while driving is already in place.

The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association, which represents 180 of the UK's 200 local roads authorities, fears that more people will smoke while driving home from the pub once a smoking ban on public places comes into force on 1 July.

According to The Observer, road safety campaigners believe drivers are in danger of crashing when they take their hands off the wheel to light cigarettes; they are also at risk of an accident if ash or a lit cigarette falls on them.