Final answer:
Smoking while driving can be distracting and negatively impacts a driver's concentration and reaction times, despite some smokers rationalizing their habit to downplay the risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Smoking while driving is generally recognized as a distraction. It can take the driver's attention away from the road, and the act of lighting a cigarette or handling smoking materials can physically distract the driver from controlling the vehicle. Furthermore, smoking does not increase alertness—in fact, it can have a detrimental impact on the driver's senses and reaction time. Educational programs acknowledge the negative effects of smoking on health and highlight that such awareness is often insufficient to change smokers' habits. They may rationalize their behavior or underestimate the risks by believing that certain modifications, like smoking filtered cigarettes, can make it less harmful.