States at federal level initiate fresh effort to prohibit smoking within automobiles
In an effort to safeguard the health of minors and expectant mothers, several German states, including North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Lower Saxony, have proposed a motion to broaden the country's smoke-free protection laws. This move follows the failure of a similar draft law in the summer of 2023.
According to reports from the news agency dpa, the proposed motion aims to prohibit smoking in cars when minors or pregnant women are present. If approved, the Bundestag will be the next to consider the draft law.
The ban is a response to the hazards of secondhand smoke, which can lead to lung damage, increased cancer risk, and growth disorders. The state has a special protective responsibility towards those who cannot protect themselves from secondhand smoke.
NRW and Lower Saxony have submitted an amendment to the federal smoke-free protection law to achieve this smoking ban. This aligns with several other European countries that have already implemented similar bans, such as France, Belgium, Britain, and Austria. Italy also prohibits smoking in a car when minors or pregnant women are present, with fines of up to 500 euros for violations.
The German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg estimates that currently around one million minors in Germany are exposed to tobacco smoke in the car. The risks associated with secondhand smoke are particularly high in enclosed spaces, making cars a significant concern.
Secondhand smoke increases the risk of cancer for minors, including a higher likelihood of liver tumors or leukemia. The expectations that smoking in the car in the presence of others would be voluntarily discontinued have not been met, according to the draft bill.
On September 18, 2025, there will be a radio report on this topic on our website aktuell at 19:00. Stay tuned for more updates on this crucial issue.
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