Spanish police will not fine drivers for smoking (at least for now), traffic boss says
The Local - [email protected] •
19 Jun, 2019
Updated Wed 19 Jun 2019 14:36 CEST
The head of Spain's traffic agency the Dirección General de Tráfico has said that he “loves” the idea of combating smoking behind the wheel, but that drivers who smoke will not be penalized for the time being.
Pere Navarro, the head of the public agency the DGT was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to launch the new road safety campaign En la carretera, cerveza SIN (“On the road, beer without alcohol”).
But the question of smoking behind the wheel was also raised.
Cerveceros de España renueva hoy su compromiso con la #SeguridadVial y presenta su campaña de verano junto con el director de #DGT, Pere Navarro, #EnLaCarreteraCervezaSIN Los moteros de @ECcervezaSIN recorrerán España con su mensaje dirigido a todos los conductores ??? pic.twitter.com/KxxIeEFKJO
— Dir. Gral. Tráfico (@DGTes) June 18, 2019
Navarro called smoking behind the wheel “extremely dangerous”, but qualified his support for its prohibition by adding, “we don't see the Guardia Civil chasing smokers, we wouldn't feel comfortable.”
He did, however, remind smokers that tossing a cigarette butt out a vehicle’s window is illegal, punishable with a minimum €200 fine and the loss of 4 points off one’s driver’s license.
The Spanish traffic control body’s director indicated that he would support the Ministry of Health should they seek to ban smoking while driving as a public safety measure, saying that “we love seeing progress in this fight, but the DGT still doesn’t have any rules on the table.”
READ ALSO:
The newspaper ABC reported on Tuesday that the Ministry of Health is planning on opening up the “war on tobacco behind the wheel” with the DGT’s cooperation.
The Health Ministry, like the DGT, argues that smoking while driving is a dangerous distraction, and is considering attempting to prohibit the practice as part of upcoming public safety legislation.
¿Quieres saber lo que distrae cada una de estas acciones?
? #fumar ?
?#whatsappear ?
?#sintonizar la radio ?
Echa cuentas de los metros que conduces sin ver la #carretera y decide. Al volante, #CeroDistracciones pic.twitter.com/VUgJK7cZA2
— Dir. Gral. Tráfico (@DGTes) June 18, 2019
This DGT tweet indicates that lighting a cigarette distracts drivers during 4 seconds, on average.
On the subject of drink driving Navarro said that 24 per cent of drivers killed last year had high rates of alcohol in their blood.
That percentage rises to 35 per cent for those killed on urban roads.
See Also
Pere Navarro, the head of the public agency the DGT was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to launch the new road safety campaign En la carretera, cerveza SIN (“On the road, beer without alcohol”).
But the question of smoking behind the wheel was also raised.
Cerveceros de España renueva hoy su compromiso con la #SeguridadVial y presenta su campaña de verano junto con el director de #DGT, Pere Navarro, #EnLaCarreteraCervezaSIN Los moteros de @ECcervezaSIN recorrerán España con su mensaje dirigido a todos los conductores ??? pic.twitter.com/KxxIeEFKJO
— Dir. Gral. Tráfico (@DGTes) June 18, 2019
Navarro called smoking behind the wheel “extremely dangerous”, but qualified his support for its prohibition by adding, “we don't see the Guardia Civil chasing smokers, we wouldn't feel comfortable.”
He did, however, remind smokers that tossing a cigarette butt out a vehicle’s window is illegal, punishable with a minimum €200 fine and the loss of 4 points off one’s driver’s license.
The Spanish traffic control body’s director indicated that he would support the Ministry of Health should they seek to ban smoking while driving as a public safety measure, saying that “we love seeing progress in this fight, but the DGT still doesn’t have any rules on the table.”
READ ALSO:
The newspaper ABC reported on Tuesday that the Ministry of Health is planning on opening up the “war on tobacco behind the wheel” with the DGT’s cooperation.
The Health Ministry, like the DGT, argues that smoking while driving is a dangerous distraction, and is considering attempting to prohibit the practice as part of upcoming public safety legislation.
¿Quieres saber lo que distrae cada una de estas acciones?
— Dir. Gral. Tráfico (@DGTes) June 18, 2019
? #fumar ?
?#whatsappear ?
?#sintonizar la radio ?
Echa cuentas de los metros que conduces sin ver la #carretera y decide. Al volante, #CeroDistracciones pic.twitter.com/VUgJK7cZA2
This DGT tweet indicates that lighting a cigarette distracts drivers during 4 seconds, on average.
On the subject of drink driving Navarro said that 24 per cent of drivers killed last year had high rates of alcohol in their blood.
That percentage rises to 35 per cent for those killed on urban roads.
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.