[American Soldier]

Public smoking bans are stupid, but this is a little bit different.

The average driver today is TOO STUPID to handle driving! I've moved to the East Coast (Virginia) and things are even worse here than they were back in Washington.

It's sad to say, but the average driver today really does not have enough intelligence, coordination, or capacity (WHATEVER you want to call it!) to handle both the tasks of road safety management and tobacco consumption management at the same time.

I don't know how many times some dumbass has come within 8 inches of me and then I see him look up from lighting his cigarette!

It's a silly ban but I wouldn't fight against it. Cell phone users without hands-free equipment are the worst offenders of all. I've had to get out of my car to yell at a couple of them. Really I wish the state legislature would stop worrying so much about people who want to smoke a cigarette or drink a coke in their car and go after these schmucks who need to buy a $300 car phone instead of pulling over and making 50 cent calls but WILL NOT buy a $10 attachment that allows them to get the thing out of their face and look at the road while they drive!

I'm sure MANY more kids are killed by idiot drivers who have something more important to pay attention to than the road than are killed by second hand smoke every year.

[Fixit]

For arguments sake let's say I accept your point.

You fail, however, to state a case against smoking in a car, you simply state a case against smoking and driving.

What of the passengers in the car?

[Max McGarrity]

If driver safety and concentration is your concern, I'd suggest we ban KIDS in cars. They're far more likely to distract the driver than any other single thing you mention. By the way, I've been smoking just slightly fewer years than I've been driving and have never caused an accident, had very few, and don't like the idea of being punished for other folks' poor driving ability.

[Old Professer]

I don't know how many times some dumbass has come within 8 inches of me and then I see him look up from lighting his cigarette!

Nonsense, you rant. Anytime you are moving in a car and you allow another driver to get that close to you, you are to blame.

I always assume that all of the other drivers on the road set out that day just searching for me with bloodlust in their hearts and drive accordingly.

The law in question here would only benefit the situation you describe when the kid is "on board," I don't see a lot of benefit to your support based on that.