An experienced smoker can light up with there eyes closed.
I'm sure that anyone being done for this is probably scrambling around the floor for a lighter, or reaching over into a bag or something. Which for what ever reason taking your eyes off the road for a longer period of time than you should.
Sorry about your mate waddi but we can say the same about seagulls too

With the Highway Code Changes, this means it can now also be
asked in your Driving Test the written part anyway. So its
making people more aware and habits will change too.
Why do cars still have ashtrays?
Why do they have (not all) Cigarette lighters?
As mentioned in the BBC report there is no Evidence to suggest that smoking at the wheel causes any more or less accidents, or something like that any ways.
I've heard about the apple one too, but i think there was more to
it like it was a huge apple and she couldn't see the road.
Its all for interpretation in my opinion.
But well over the top for apples and smokers IMO.