The municipality of Langlade prohibits smoking in private vehicles

Motivated by fire prevention in a particularly dry region, the municipal decree constitutes a first in prohibiting smoking on board private vehicles.

The small town of Langlade (2,200 inhabitants), located in the Gard, has just adopted a municipal decree restricting the use of tobacco in several public spaces in order to vigorously combat the risk of fire.[1]. It has temporarily extended this limitation to private vehicles, which is more unusual.

The municipality is increasing the number of smoke-free areas

Taking local initiatives to restrict smoking, both active and passive, responds to a growing demand from citizens. Many localities have already established smoke-free areas located in the public domain, whether it is the perimeter surrounding schools, parks and gardens or beaches, or even entire streets, not to mention the areas around public buildings. Inaugurated in Nancy, Mulhouse and Joinville, the project "Free city without tobacco" develops, for its part, the principle of a complete no-smoking policy with a view to improving the living conditions of residents, deployed gradually across a city.

Advised by the departmental committee of the League against Cancer, the municipality of Langlade has therefore joined this movement by issuing a municipal decree banning smoking in several public spaces in the municipality. The football stadium, the shooting range, the archery range, the tennis courts, and the Pondres and Moulin sites thus complete the non-smoking areas already set up on the playground and in front of the municipal school. Smoking areas have, however, been set up in some of these locations.[2].

The ban on smoking while driving, a temporary but unprecedented measure

The particularity of this municipal decree is to extend the smoking ban to private vehicles, a pioneering measure in France and even beyond. A fine of fifteen euros is provided for in the event of an infringement. The initiative of the municipality of Langlade is however only temporary and should end on July 31.

While the ban on smoking in vehicles carrying minors has already been imposed in England, Scotland, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and France, it has not yet been applied to vehicles not carrying children, even though this intention has already been expressed. With regard to vehicles, the angle addressed is usually that of passive or even ultra-passive smoking.[3], but more rarely that of environmental concerns, as here with the risk of fire.

This unprecedented decision joins those undertaken locally by other municipalities in the world, more particularly in North America, where some cities have been declared completely non-smoking[4] and others have restricted smoking in private places within collective housing[5]This type of innovation is also one of the many options available to mayors to denormalize tobacco in their communities, as recalled in the practical guide. “The mayor faces addictive behavior”, published by MILDECA[6].

Keywords: Langlade, private vehicles, fire, smoke-free areas, Free city without tobacco

©Tobacco Free Generation

M.F.

[1] Solano C, Gard. This city that restricts smoking to avoid any fire, La Gazette de Nîmes, published on June 23, 2022, consulted on June 29, 2022.

[2] Gard. Ban on smoking in cars and public places, a city tackles cigarettes, Actu.fr, published on June 28, 2022, consulted on June 29, 2022

[3] Ultra-passive smoking refers to exposure to persistent toxic particles deposited by tobacco smoke, particularly in enclosed spaces (homes, vehicles, workplaces, etc.).

[4] Tobacco-Free Music Cities in the United States: Music for Health, Generation Without Tobacco, published October 8, 2020, consulted March 12, 2022.

[5] San Jose bans smoking in apartments and sale of e-cigarette flavors, Generation Without Tobacco, published September 30, 2021, consulted June 29, 2022.

[6] The mayor faces addictive behavior, Practical guide, MILDECA, 2022.