Contrary to what some may say, smoking while driving is not prohibited. It is strongly discouraged, yes, but it is not specified in the Highway Code.
However, the police can be a little overzealous by putting a fine of 135 euros for smokers for “lack of control of the vehicle”.
Anyway here, the mayor of this small town in Gard did not take this measure with the aim of limiting the number of road accidents in his municipality.
No, if smoking while driving is now prohibited for a period limited to Langlade, it is to fight against the risk of fire.
15 euro fine
Since June 18 and until July 31motorists who will drive with a cigarette in hand in the town of Langlade will be liable to a fine of 15 euros.
And for good reason, thee Gard is plagued by fires with the high heat and surrounding drought. But for all that, this measure does not really seem to delight the locals. Some of them spoke in a report by France info and the reactions are not really in favor of this decree: “I honestly smoke in my car, as long as we have an ashtray, I don’t see why, as long as I don’t throw it on the ground I don’t see how it bothers me, it’s my car”, “Is- what can we breathe? With all the pollution there is, huh? They come to piss us off with the smokers”.
