While vaping while driving is not illegal in the United Kingdom (or the United States for that matter), those who fail to exercise an adequate amount of caution while doing so may be subjected to legal consequences that include the possibility of loss of license.
That’s right, if you’re vaping while driving and you fail to exhibit an adequate amount of caution while doing so, you may be subject to having your license disqualified. And it doesn’t end there, you could also be slapped with a £2,500 fine, which is the equivalent to roughly $3,500 (USD) at the current exchange rate.
But if it’s not illegal, then why are UK motorists at risk of penalty for doing it? We’ll explain.
If a law enforcement officer determines that you are in any way distracted while driving, you could be found guilty of an offense. It doesn’t matter if you’re vaping, smoking, eating, or doing your makeup – if you’re not in control, you may find yourself guilty of an offense. And if you’re wondering what exactly constitutes an offense, it’s up to law enforcement officers to decide.
Sergeant Carl Knapp with the Sussex Road Policing Unit was quoted by the Daily Mail as having said that the vapor or aerosol produced by vaporizers “are a distraction and the consequences of them can be dire, all it takes is a moment to become distracted and potentially cause a crash and even worse, a fatality.”
“The smoke caused by vapes are a distraction and the consequences of them can be dire, all it takes is a moment to become distracted and potentially cause a crash and even worse, a fatality.”
Subsequently, Sgt. Knapp suggests motorists “pay 100 percent attention to the roads when driving as anything that takes that attention away has the potential of severe consequences.”
“I strongly advise people to pay 100 percent attention to the roads when driving as anything that takes that attention away has the potential of severe consequences.”
Knapp offered in additional clarity on the legality of vaping while driving as he stated that while “there are no laws prohibiting vaping,” one needs to be “in full and proper control” of their motor vehicle “at all times.”
“There are no laws prohibiting vaping, however, you need to be in full and proper control of your vehicle at all times.”
Subsequently, Knapp advises motorists that are vaping while driving to open their windows and blow the vapor out.
In other words, if you think filling your vehicle with large clouds of vapor to the point at which visibility is reduced is a good idea, think again because it could be labeled a distraction and you could, in turn, find yourself faced with legal repercussions– if not worse.
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