There are tens of thousands of Americans on the roadways across the country right now. It is likely that a great deal of these drivers are currently distracted. It is true that a common cause of distracted driving is the use of smartphones, but some forms of distracted driving seem much more innocuous than this.
A common and dangerous variety of distracted driving is eating while driving. According to Decide to Drive, drivers who eat or drink while driving increase their chances of crash or near-crash by 39%.
A list of the most dangerous foods
Some foods appear at crash sites more than others. Common foods involved with automobile crashes include coffee, soft drinks, soups, hamburgers, tacos and donuts.
Many of these foods are easy to obtain from roadside eateries or convenience stores. If you choose to eat a Thanksgiving dinner while driving, this does not make the practice any safer simply because stuffing or cranberry sauce does not appear frequently at crash sites.
Reducing eating while driving
Many Americans eat behind the wheel due to a lack of time. If you frequently find yourself eating breakfast on the way to work, consider setting your alarm clock a little bit earlier in the morning. As little as 10 minutes can be the difference between enjoying breakfast at your dining room table versus trying to eat while navigating rush hour traffic.
If you are planning for a long car ride, consider packing lunch. This way you can stop at a rest stop to enjoy your meal. Not only will this prevent you from operating a vehicle while eating, it will likely be less expensive and healthier than drive-thru offerings.
