Did You Know That Eating Behind the Wheel Makes You a Dangerous Driver?

You’ve probably had a day or two when you had to swing through a drive-thru to get something to eat. You might have been rushing to work or school, to an activity or because of another responsibility.

The only trouble with that is that eating behind the wheel can be extremely dangerous. When you eat behind the wheel, you take your mind off what you’re doing. You focus more on the food than your driving. Your mind may wander, and you may take your hands off the wheel. Essentially, you have little to no control over your vehicle, and your reflexes are reduced as well. 

One of the worst distractions on the road is a spilled drink. Imagine spilling coffee or cold soda on yourself. You’d likely reach for a napkin or start looking around for something to clean it up. If it hurt, you may be distracted by that pain. It takes your mind off the road, which creates a high risk for a collision.

Even allowing passengers to eat in your vehicle may distract you from the road. If they offer you a bite, then that could also be a distraction while you’re meant to be focused on the road and what you’re doing.

Finally, think about the clutter that is there when you eat inside your vehicle. Clutter, like wrappers, could block the brake or accelerator. It could become a distraction due to smell or reflections from the sun.

The best course of action is to avoid eating behind the wheel. That way, you’ll keep yourself and your passengers much safer while you drive. If you do need to eat, just pull over. It will be safer to do so than to try to continue to drive.

Despite your best efforts to be a safe and sensible driver, another driver’s mistake can easily lead to a wreck. If you’re seriously injured by a distracted driver, it may be time to learn more about your right to compensation.