The powers-that-be in the UK are trying to ban smoking in cars now. This is on top of banning eating and drinking whilst driving (which they enforce - ask me how I know) and cellphone use and texting whilst driving (which they don't enforce). It's the epitome of the nanny state; it's deemed unacceptable to have a snack or take a drink while you're driving, but at the same time its perfectly OK to have an onboard computer so complicated that you need a degree to work it (systems as distracting and complicated as BMW's iDrive or Ford's Sync). It seems even heating and A/C controls are no longer straightforward. The rental car I had recently had indistinct digital controls where tactile knobs and dials used to suffice, and an onboard menu-driven setup system more complex than any cellphone I've ever used. Just to tune the radio required navigating through a complex multi-level computer interface that made Microsoft Windows look user-friendly.
You can't ban eating, drinking and smoking in cars in the name of safety whilst ignoring the increasing drive towards super complex user interfaces.
