Drivers are only just realising that they could be hit with a £5,000 fine for vaping and driving

MOTORISTS have been issued with a stark warning that smoking or vaping while behind the wheel could land them with a fine of up to £5,000.

Those who choose to puff away could face stern penalties if they are deemed to have caused an accident by being distracted or driving carelessly.

Although smoking or vaping while driving is not illegal, the law was changed back in 2015 so that smoking in a car with anyone under the age of 18 is now prohibited – with the driver and the smoker each facing a fine of £50.

But the punishment can be much more severe.

Rule 148 of the Highway Code says you should “avoid distractions” when driving, and smoking falls into that category.

You could be hit with a £100 fine for careless driving, but in more serious cases, the it can mean a maximum £5,000, up to nine penalty points and even a driving ban.

With concerns that vaping can impair vision and cause dizziness, motoring groups are now calling for vaping behind the wheel to be banned 

Experts at LeaseCar.uk say there is no way people can adhere to the required standard of driving while vaping. 

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “It is only a matter of time before we start seeing more fatalities on the road with the current vaping epidemic. 

“E-cigarettes that contain nicotine cause dizziness and lightheadedness, which is highly dangerous, putting both the driver and other road users at risk. 

“Not only that, as people puff at the devices, the vast clouds of smoke create a massive hazard as it blocks and restricts vision.

“We are calling for the government to make urgent changes to current motoring offences and consider just how dangerous vaping at the wheel is.”