Any talk of cigarette-style restrictions on car ads is an absolute nonsense.

Published on Fri, 12 October 2007 5:10 pm

And again a new “amazing” idea was proposed by European Parliament. It was suggested to introduce tobacco-style safety warnings on cars.

In European Parliament the idea comes from Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies. Davis claims for 20% of advertising space in car ads to be used to highlight carbon dioxide (CO2) emission levels. More detailed information on the proposed law will be presented before the whole EP the next month.

It was suggested that health warnings on cigarette packs provide a “useful example” of the proposals.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders keep to the other opinion. As it was related, they think “automotive sector is already one of the most heavily regulated when it comes to advertising”.

SMMT head of communications Nigel Wonnacott said: “Any talk of cigarette-style restrictions on car ads is an absolute nonsense. To suggest that we are making planet-destroying products and need the same kind of restrictions like something as patently harmful as cigarettes are just headline grabbing. This is a bridge too far.”

Advertising Association also is far from being fond of the proposed idea. Head of public affairs of Association Sue Eustace said: “The proposed restrictions are not proportionate or tenable. This could be very damaging for the advertising industry and for car manufacturers.”

Question: Why is it needed to launch a law that can result so many damages? Is not enough to place the warnings on the cigarette packs? The ideas of both parts must be taken into account.