Eating in the Car is Distracted Driving
Distracted driving resulted in nearly 4,500 accident deaths nationwide last year; a statistic that is astonishing to all of us at Service King NW Dallas/I-35 in Dallas, TX.
While texting is the leading cause of more than half of these accidents, most of us underestimate the impact that eating and drinking have on our driving. In a survey of one thousand drivers conducted by ExxonMobile, 70 percent of drivers admitted to eating while driving and 83 percent to drinking non-alcoholic beverages while operating a vehicle.
So, here are some frequently asked questions about this topic:
How Does Eating Interfere While You’re Driving?
Driving can be broken down into 3 basic task categories--visual, manual, and cognitive, all of which are distracted while consuming food or drink. Eating while drinking logically takes your eyes off of the road, and can seriously affect your responsiveness. A recent study by the University at Leeds found that on average eating decreased driver reaction speed by 44 percent, while drinking decreases a driver’s reaction time by 22 percent To put that in perspective, that same study found that being intoxicated delayed response time by 12.5 percent.
Is it Really Against the Law?
Back In 2012 in Huron, South Dakota added a new law that fines drivers there $100 for distracted driving that specifically addresses eating. Aside from this one locally law, there isn’t any legislation in any state in the United States that restricts eating or drinking while behind the wheel. At the very best, offenders can be ticketed for vague offenses such as “distracted driving,” “reckless driving” and/or “not exercising due care.” While it’s fairly easy to give a drunk driver a breathalyzer test, it’s also harder to prove that a driver was looking at their sandwich instead of at the road.
Cross over into Canada, and it’s a completely different story. In 2018, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police increased enforcement of varied distracted driving laws, specifically singling out eating and driving. Depending on each province, offenders can be issued tickets that could be as much as $400.
Stay Away from Messy Foods
If you must eat while you’re driving, avoid messy foods. A simple burrito or a veggie wrap is much less likely to cause a distracting spill than a taco, tostada or sandwich. Likewise, French fries, nachos and other foods that have fillings and various toppings that may fall in your lap should always be avoided at all costs.
Service King NW Dallas/I-35 in Dallas, TX 75229
Sources: AOL News and garage.com
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