>>Smokers have changed as a population. They are much more considerate now. Good on ya.
>
>Are they? In my - very unscientific and informal survery - done by paying attention at smokers, I see that the majority still throw the spent butts on the street, and I've seen, more than once, drivers in front of me, stopped at a red light, open the door and empty their ashtray on the street.
>
>Maybe it's only where I live but it is beyond unbelievable to me why would these people treat their city like a garbage can and not take care of disposing of their garbage proiperly
>
>Alex (a non-smoker).

Alex;

You see the same activity in California. Brush and forest fires are started in our state by smokers throwing a burning cigarette butt out the window.

I have also seen drivers open the door of their car and empty their ashtray on the street more than once. To some drivers a red light means empty your ash tray and to others go as fast as you can. Sometimes I will park and find a pile of cigarette butts - perhaps one hundred or more, on the ground next to a car parked near me. That must be a special ash tray to hole that many butts. :)

People who smoke think they have “the rights to be inconsiderate. They rationalize his/her addiction in a number of ways.

I do not allow anyone to smoke in my car or home. We went to a friends wedding and someone asked if we could give her a ride to the reception, which we agreed. About half way across the Bay Bridge, our passenger asked, “Is it alright if I smoke”? We were traveling at the speed limit and traffic was a bit heavy as usual. There is no place to stop or park along the bridge. I said, “Sure! I will stop here and let you out”! I could see the white of her eyes grow and that was the end of her cigarette fit.


Tom