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F Houghton
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Ir Med J. 2012 Jun;105(6):187
Sir
Statements by Dr Reilly, the Minister for Health,1 concerning potential measures to combat smoking in private vehicles containing children below the age of majority are to be welcomed. Smoking remains a scourge that continues to impact heavily and unevenly on those most disadvantaged in society.2
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However, it is important that this new focus does not overshadow outstanding issues relating to smoking and public transport. Issues of enforcement of the smoking ban, particularly on bus services remain an important stumbling block. Both domestic3 and international4 research confirms this as an ongoing issue that remains to be tackled. Another related issue is that of people smoking while waiting at bus shelters. Although typically well aerated, many commuters, including children, are subjected to daily exposure from this source. This seems unfortunate given that adopting public transport is both ‘cleaner and greener’, as well as being one way that many people can combine some exercise (‘active transport’) into their daily travel to work, school, or college, rather than driving door to door. A growing number of communities (Budapest, State of Victoria, Gibraltar, Israel) have banned smoking at bus shelters in recent years. Given significant ongoing investment and support by the Government for public transport under the National Development Plan (Transport 21), and the significant costs of treating smoking related illness, ‘joined-up thinking’ would appear to make State intervention and enforcement around each of these issues both essential and overdue.
F Houghton
Department of Humanities, Limerick Institute of Technology, Limerick
Email: [email protected]
References
1. McGreevey R. Reilly says Government could ban all smoking in cars. The Irish Times. 2011 July 27th.
2. Department of Health. Fair society, healthy lives (the Marmot review). London: Department of Health; 2010.
3. Scott K. A Study of Anti-Social Behaviour on Dublin Bus Routes [dissertation]. Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology; 2008.
4. Scottish Executive. Anti-social Behaviour on Buses. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive; 2005.
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Author's Correspondence
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No Author Comments
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Acknowledgement
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No Acknowledgement
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Other References
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No Other References
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