YOUNGSTERS who are passengers in cars will be able to breathe a little easier from next Thursday.

For, from October 1 it will become an offence to be caught smoking in a car in which anyone under 18 is a passenger.

Fifty pound fines will be handed out to not only the driver but also to any passenger guilty of lighting up in the car.

Given that you can no longer smoke in pubs, restaurants and even some public open spaces such as parks in some areas, you do have to wonder why it has perhaps taken so long for this to come into force.

The dangers of passive smoking are well-known and even the most fervent pro-cigarette campaigner accepts that their favourite addiction can hardly be classed as being good for your health.

A tiny box on wheels is just not the right place to be smoking in when there are children present - there is no way they can escape the smoke even if the smoker wanted them to.

No doubt there will be those who trot out the usual civil liberties arguments, but keeping children healthy outweighs this every time.

The difficulty will come in enforcing it.

Drivers aren’t supposed to use mobile phones in the car either are they?