BOLTON MP Brian Iddon is urging police to take a tougher line on smokers who light up behind the wheel.

Dr Iddon has called for stern action on smokers to stop them "fumbling about in the drivers seat."

The Bolton South East MP says he was astonished that laws were being considered to stop people using mobile phones while driving, but not to ban smoking drivers.

Greater Manchester Police say that smoking behind the wheel is not illegal and that they can only enforce the law as it stands.

Road safety minister David Jamieson said that police did have the powers to impose a £2,500 fine if caught driving carelessly -- or two years jail.

But GMP said that careless driving and smoking were different issues.

Dr Iddon has raised the issue at a debate at a Royal Automobile Club meeting said: "We were debating the issue about using mobile phones in cars, but I couldn't understand why people are not getting fanatical about smoking in cars.

"You see them constantly fumbling around trying to find a lighter, then they can throw the cigarette out of the window.

"I am sure that smokers have caused many grass fires in the last few years.

"Not to mention the number of passing cyclists and pedestrians they put at danger.

"They must also have caused some accidents. Why are cars still built with cigarette lighters?"

Dr Iddon was told by the Government that there was "no significant" rise in road traffic accidents due to smoking.

The Government said legislation was already in place through current careless driving laws to tackle the problem.

Dr Iddon, who has sparked nationwide debate on the issue following his question put in parliament, added: "I thought it was a subject that needed public debate."

Simon Clark, Director of FOREST -- the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Tobacco -- said: "This is just typical of the anti smoking culture in this country today.

"Smokers are easy targets for everything. There is no evidence that smoking and driving causes any more problems than eating or changing cassettes in a car. whilst behind the wheel." MP wants harder line on driving smoking at wheel