Tobacco

Smoking in Vehicles

Roughly 3% of non-smokers in Simcoe Muskoka said they were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in vehicles in 2019-2020, similar to the provincial rate.
In Ontario, secondhand smoke exposure in vehicles has decreased over time.
Children and youth are more likely to report exposure in vehicles.
Regular exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles among non-smokers is higher for those living in households with lower income across Ontario, and is lower among people with a higher level of education.

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), for the 2019-2020 survey years, 3% (1.5, 4.3%) of Simcoe Muskoka residents (12+) that identified as non-smokers said that they were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in vehicles. This was not significantly different from the comparable provincial average.
Across Ontario, there was a significant decrease in regular exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles from 4% (3.5%, 4.4%) of non-smokers (12+) in 2015-2016 to 2% (2.1%, 2.8%) in 2019-2020.
According to the 2014 Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) survey in Simcoe Muskoka, 85% (82.7%, 88.1%) of adult drivers, 18 years and older, reported that smoking is never allowed in the vehicle they drive the most.

Secondhand smoke exposure in private vehicle Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario

The reporting of regular exposure to secondhand smoke in public places is highest among non-smoking children and youth (12-19 years) and decreases with age.
In combined data from the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 CCHS surveys, 5% (3.7%, 5.6%) of non-smoking children and youth in Ontario reported regular exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles.

Secondhand smoke exposure in private vehicle by age in Ontario

The difference in regular exposure to second hand smoke in private vehicles for those living in urban areas compared to rural areas was not statistically significant in either Simcoe Muskoka or Ontario.

Secondhand smoke exposure in private vehicle by geography

Regular exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles among non-smokers is higher for those living in households with less income and lower among those with higher levels of education.
In combined data from the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 CCHS surveys, 4% (3.8%, 5.2%) of Ontario non-smokers (12+) living in households in the bottom 20 per cent of income were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in vehicles, which was significantly higher than the 2% (1.5%, 2.3%) for those living in households in the top 20 per cent of income.
Regular exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles was reported by 1.5% (1.2%, 2.1%) of non-smokers with a degree or higher in Ontario, which is significantly lower than the 3.9% (2.3%, 4.6%) of people with a high school diploma or less.

secondhand smoke exposure in private vehicle by education and income in Ontario

Questions about exposure to secondhand smoke were included in the 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020 CCHS surveys, but were not included in 2017 and 2018.