Many people eat behind the wheel while they’re driving. They might be on a long trip or just grabbing lunch while running errands.
So, what’s the problem? Well, people are not good at multitasking and becoming distracted by food or beverages while driving creates unnecessary risks. Car crashes can and do happen because people eat and drink behind the wheel.
Eating behind the wheel is also problematic for other reasons, some of which include the fact that you could choke on your food, spill a hot or cold drink on yourself or take your hands off the wheel for a moment. Eating or drinking while you drive is both unnecessary and dangerous.
How can you avoid eating behind the wheel?
Since eating behind the wheel creates cognitive, manual and visual distractions, the best option is to avoid eating in your vehicle at all. If you absolutely do need to eat, then you should only eat if you’re a passenger or are able to pull over to the side of the road or the restaurant’s parking lot.
Taking a few minutes to go into a restaurant to eat instead of going through the drive-up window might also be a good option, even if you think it will delay your time of arrival.
What if you’re injured by a distracted driver?
If someone eats or drinks in their vehicle and causes a car accident, they can be held liable for others’ injuries and the damage that they caused. If you’re hit by someone who was distracted by food or beverages, then you could have a claim against them for their actions. Our website has additional information about what you should do if you’re involved in a crash.