Welsh Drivers Could Face £5,000 Fine for Vaping Behind the Wheel

Today’s news, on May 5, reports that Welsh drivers using e-cigarettes have been warned that they could face hefty fines for doing so behind the wheel, and may even end up being banned from driving.

According to ATS Euromaster, around 4.3 million people in the UK use e-cigarettes. Anyone doing this in a car risks traveling in a vehicle filled with vapor, which could obscure their view of the road.

Reaching for an e-cigarette can be classified as careless driving, as it may distract the driver. This behavior could also make it difficult to focus on the road.

The Welsh government recently announced a new law prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in vehicles. If caught violating this law, you could face an on-the-spot fine of £100 and up to 9 points on your driving license, with total fines reaching as high as £5,000.

Lynne Neagle, the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Welsh government, recently announced a plan to make Wales smoke-free by 2030. "The negative impact of smoking on our health and wellbeing is well known," she said.

"Smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Wales. The reasons people start and continue to smoke are complex. While about 13% of people in Wales are smokers, we know that those living in our poorer communities are more likely to smoke than those in the least deprived areas. The impact of tobacco use is a key component of the health inequalities that the Welsh government wants to address."

"During COVID-19, everyone saw these entrenched inequalities. The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Wales' poorer populations highlighted the importance of addressing these health inequalities with new urgency and purpose. This is why I am proud to introduce this bold and ambitious tobacco control strategy in Wales, with a vision to create a smoke-free Wales by 2030."

"We are committed to preventing disease and supporting people to make healthier choices for their health and wellbeing—therefore I hope we are ambitious and take every possible action to address the harms caused by tobacco. A smoke-free Wales is possible, but we must work together for the benefit of future generations."