The Australian state of Tasmania is introducing a new law, which bans anyone from smoking inside a car where children are present.

Sounds like a good idea in theory but is it really going to do anything to save children. Is it possible this will cause more deaths from car crashes than from saving children’s lives by avoiding second hand smoking?

A crash may occur as the smoker sees a police car and panics as he or she try to hide their cigarette. Or panic as they desperately try to put it out and clear the smoke.

Or alternatively on longer road trips the driver may find a cigarette perks them up, similar to a cup of coffee. We all know happens when you fall a sleep on the high way.

I am not suggesting it is a good thing to smoke in a car with children and it is not something I would do, but people are free to make their own choices whether good or bad.

If it is a law to protect the children, then I am a little confused, the worst damage that can be done to a child is to smoke when you are pregnant. I am not aware of any laws banning that so what are they really hoping to achieve with this law.