ALMOST three quarters of people think smoking at the wheel should be banned in all vehicles, it was disclosed today.

And 60 per cent wrongly believe the July 1 smoking ban - which affects company and workplace vehicles - also applies to private cars.

The survey, conducted by eBayMotors.co.uk, found that nearly half drivers would refuse to travel in a car with a smoker and 54 per cent reckon smoking at the wheel is as dangerous as using a mobile phone.

A third of smokers admitted to having driven carelessly when lighting and stubbing out cigarettes. About half of motorists would not buy a car from a smoker because of the smell, while 55 per cent would expect a discount.

Of those who drive company cars, two thirds have yet to receive any advice from employers about how the July 1 smoking ban will affect them, and 10 per cent wrongly think smoking in company vehicles will only be banned if a passenger is present.

Emma Parfitt, of eBayMotors. co.uk, said: "Not only do drivers who smoke at the wheel risk causing accidents on the road but they also stand to lose hundreds off the resale price of their cars."

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