There was a 14 per cent rise in smoking in cars following a similar ban in Scotland in March 2006 and a similar rise is expected in England, according to research conducted by Privilege Insurance. The study also found that 11 per cent of drivers admitted their driving had been negatively affected as a result of smoking.

Jennifer Culley, from Privilege Insurance said: “Today's research shows that 47 per cent of drivers would either stop smoking or cut back on the number of times they smoke at the wheel if it was proved to increase their risk of crashing. “But what's worrying is that forty per cent of drivers across Scotland and England said they would still smoke even if it was proven to be dangerous.”