Could Vaping While Driving Be Illegal?

Many vapers will agree, vaping while driving can be a great stress-reliever, and an overall pleasurable experience; especially on long, boring trips. However, this can lead to significant risks, both physical and legal.

This is obvious even to the novice vaper. Blowing clouds of vape, especially in an enclosed space, will impair your field of vision. Combine this with a car windshield smudged with vapor residue and you have a recipe for disaster for you and those around you. Fortunately, there are ways to manage this dilemma.

Solutions:

• Aim Your Vapor – To put it simply, blow your vapor to the side, away from your field of vision; either through the corner of your mouth or through your nostrils. To avoid the possibility of collision, never exhale your vapor directly in front of you.
• Reduce VG – VG is the main ingredient in e-liquid which produces billowing clouds. This is great when in the privacy of your own home, but dangerous when driving. A few draws of high VG juice, especially in a sub-ohm tank, can quickly fog out a vehicle. Consider using a higher PG based ejuice when on long car trips.
• Open Windows – No matter what VG/PG ratio juice you are vaping, all e-liquid tends to linger in the air of closed spaces. Opening a car window allows the vapor to dissipate quickly, especially if you directly blow your clouds out of the window. In bad weather at least crack the window to clear vapor from your vehicle quickly.

Distractions:

When driving, your attention obviously should be on the road. Here are some of the distractions one should be aware of to ensure safety and a pleasurable vaping experience.

• Nicotine Intake – Most vapers have at one time experienced dizziness from consuming too much nicotine. This can be dangerous when controlling a moving vehicle. When driving, use a lower nicotine juice and pull over immediately if you start feeling light-headed.
• Stay hydrated – Vaping can cause dry mouth, and not only affects the flavor of your favorite e-liquid but can also lead to coughing fits. This can be critical while behind the wheel. Make sure you keep a water bottle nearby, preferably with an easy-access nozzle.
• Squonk, Don’t Drip – The drawback with dripping is the constant need to re-saturate your wick. This is tricky while driving, as your hands need to be free to grip the steering wheel to ensure safe driving. One way to avoid this issue while still enjoying the RDA experience is by using a squonker mod. A squonker incorporates a juice bottle into the mod which you squeeze to supply juice through a bottom-fed atomizer. This frees up your hands and allows you to soak your wick with minimal distractions. A tank is obviously preferable while on long journeys, but a squonker is a great option for those that like to use RDAs.
• Store Your Gear Safely – Accidentally dropping any of your vape gear onto your vehicle’s floorboard can be deadly, especially if it gets lodged under any foot pedals. Rather than have your mod rattling around in a cup-holder, invest in a bespoke foam holder for your set-up.
• Road Surface – Be careful when vaping if you’re driving over potholes or an uneven surface. There are few things more distracting than chipping a tooth on a drip tip!

Windshield Build-Up:

If you regularly vape while driving you have surely noticed the greasy film that vapor leaves on your windshield. This can heighten the brightness of the sun or lead to a foggy effect, especially on cold days. Here are some tips to help you deal with it:

• Cleaning – Simply put, clean off the residue. Some cleaning products are more effective than others. To avoid smearing use a window spray that contains vinegar, combined with a rough cloth or newspaper to wipe it up. It’s best to deal with this regularly before it becomes a problem.
• Shaving Cream – This really does work! Applying shaving cream to your car windows helps to slow the build-up resulting from vaping. The soap in the foam creates a protective film over the glass that keeps it from fogging. A little goes a long way so only use a small amount.

Legal Issues:

At the time of writing, vaping and driving is legal in most places, although this may vary between states and countries. As mentioned previously, the UK government recently passed a law banning smoking in cars containing children. Thankfully, vaping is exempt for now but it’s likely to be a growing issue in coming years. The best solution is preventative, so here’s some advice for safe legal vaping:

• Take Precautions – Following the advice above ensures your car is mostly void of vapor. If your car is filled with thick fog the police have a right to stop you based on safety concerns. At worst, if you are involved in an accident, the bad press on vaping can encourage more legal ramifications as a whole. Safety first!
• Be Respectful – These days, most officers are familiar with vaping and are able to identify the equipment involved. However, most of the public is still uninformed, and if you are reported to the police for suspicious activity, they are obliged to follow up. If you are stopped by the police be respectful and polite, as the reputation of our vaping community is on the line.
• Respect Your Passengers – With the recent UK ruling in mind, avoid vaping in a vehicle containing young children. And to be polite, ask adult passengers if they mind. Good manners matter.

Conclusion:

While there are no doubt risks involved with vaping while driving, it’s still arguably safer than smoking and driving due to the risk of fire. The key to safe driving while vaping is to reduce anything that distracts your attention from the road. Be sure to keep your windshield clean and clear of vapor. This can mean the difference between life and death for you and those around you. For more safety tips on vaping, read our article on how to avoid these 10 vaping safety mistakes.