WHILST I am not a great believer in burdening motorists with restrictive regulations I would like to throw in some experiences in respect of this subject.

Having served at the sharp end of enforcement of Road Traffic Regulations, examined driving standards and picked up the pieces, sometimes many of them. I can categorically state that smoking whilst driving can have serious consequences sometimes fatal ones.

If we merely examine the technique in holding a cigarette, usually with the left hand, this being the prime controlling hand since it is not only used to steer but to change gear, work the various demist, heating controls, the indicators, the wipers etc. In the event of the cigarette falling down, or primarily the lit end of it, onto the floor or lap what happens then?

For those who would leap to the defence of this never happening to them, which is a similar stance to those who derided the introduction of seat belt restraints, I assure you that it can and does happen because I have attended at least two fatal crashes when this occurred and it only needs to happen once.

I was also aware of several others in my service experience.

The health issue is another matter of which I have no expertise but having researched indirectly this subject I merely quote that 'smoking can reduce ones visual performance similar to that of consuming one unit of alcohol' ie. by about 10 per cent.

On the subject of mobile phones whilst driving I suggest that pedestrians should also be educated that it can be detrimental to their health by using it whilst crossing the road and there are statistics to support this view although 'near misses' are not recorded.

It is little wonder that injuries to pedestrians have increased whilst they are using zebra crossings simply because pedestrians do not appear to accept that they are not vulnerable whilst using them.

When they were first introduced in 1949 the advice which went with their use was to 'keep looking both ways while crossing' but if you care to observe pedestrians using them you will surely note that few ever do and yet the greatest asset which the majority of pedestrians have are their eyes.

Some road users need protecting from themselves and need to be reminded that it's not only vehicles which can be returned to their maker!

– Drivemaster (name and address supplied).