Smoking and vaping: Deadly driver distraction

With situations constantly changing on the road, taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can turn deadly

1 hour ago

Kaylene Louw 2 minutes read

WHILE driving under the influence is prohibited and classified as a serious criminal offence, smoking has also been flagged as a potential distraction behind the wheel.

Driver distractions, such as rubbernecking, can contribute to the carnage on South Africa’s roads, with smoking and vaping also posing a significant threat.

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Elaborating on the topic, MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert noted smoking is a hands-on activity that takes a driver’s attention off the road.

“Reaching for cigarettes, finding a lighter, lighting up, and ashing and stubbing the cigarette all take your hands off the steering wheel and your eyes off the road.

“Vaping is no different, as drivers must pick up the device, hold it, and often adjust settings or refill it,” he said.

With situations constantly changing on the road, taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can turn deadly.

A dropped cigarette inside a vehicle can cause panic, resulting in swerving or sudden braking, while shifting the driver’s concentration from the road to the car.

“A cloud of smoke in a closed cabin can irritate the eyes, trigger coughing, and obscure the view of the windscreen.

“In the case of a vape, clouds of vapour can obstruct visibility for potentially up to a few minutes if windows are closed and the air conditioning is recirculating,” said Herbert.

Smoking has become a socially accepted habit that usually overrides a driver’s judgement, making it difficult to assess the risks involved.

“Additionally, vaping in a closed car creates a second visibility problem that lingers. Certain e-liquids never fully disappear into the air. Instead, it settles on the cool surface of the windscreen and side windows, building up a greasy, oily film that is not noticeable until the sun hits the glass at the wrong angle or you drive into oncoming headlights,” he said.

Discarding a burning cigarette butt is also risky, as it can blow back into the vehicle or ignite dry roadside vegetation, particularly during the scorching summer months.

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