There are many kinds of distracted driving. Even if you never text and drive, or never drink and drive, it is likely that you engage in certain forms of distracted driving without knowing it.
One of the most common forms of distracted driving is eating while driving. In fact, this is so common that the majority of Americans admit to doing it. According to drive-safely.net, over 70% of American drivers admit to eating while driving, and over 80% drink (non-alcoholic) beverages while driving.
Why is eating while driving so common?
Many of us want to save time, particularly in the mornings. Heating up a breakfast sandwich and munching on the way to work often seems like a great way to multitask. However, this “time-saving” strategy often comes with a huge price. Drivers who consume beverages and food while driving increase their odds of an accident by 80%.
How can I prevent eating while driving?
The best way is to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. If you typically eat breakfast in the car, make sure to wake up a little bit earlier so that you can enjoy it at the kitchen table as compared to rush hour traffic.
On longer sojourns, consider packing a picnic lunch rather than stopping at a drive-thru. Fast food is often very tempting to eat in a car. With a picnic lunch, you can stop at a rest stop and enjoy lunch at a far more leisurely pace at a picnic table.
Millions of Americans eat or drink behind the wheel every day. If you make sure that you are not one of them, you might save your life or somebody else’s.
