Nick Lloyd, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, explained that while vaping isn’t illegal, drivers who are caught driving whilst vaping may be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention. “Although it is not currently prohibited in law, drivers choosing to vape while on the road is a growing and concerning trend. If using an electronic cigarette whilst driving causes a motorist to become involved in a collision, then the activity could be considered careless driving – which is an offence.”
He pointed out that just like a sun glare, vape clouds can produce visual impairments which could potentially lead to fatal accidents. “Any secondary activity which takes eyes off the road is potentially dangerous. As well as being a physical distraction, vaping while behind the wheel can create visibility problems if clouds of vapour are produced.”
Violators may be slapped with fines, penalty points or driving bans
If policemen catch anyone vaping and believe that the clouds of smoke are impacting drivers’ ability to drive safely, they may issue a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points. In more serious cases or those contested in court, the fine may go up to £5,000, incur nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban.
Additionally, if they are involved in an accident caused by a plume of vapour, their insurance will likely not cover any damage or injuries sustained in the crash. “If using an electronic cigarette whilst driving causes a motorist to become involved in a collision, then the activity could be considered careless driving – which is an offence,” said Lloyd.
Read Further: The Sun
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