When asked to picture dangerous driving behavior, many Americans will think about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or using a cell phone while driving. While these are both dangerous driving situations, there are many varieties of distracted driving.
Many people would never drink and get behind the wheel, but those same people may eat behind the wheel. This behavior is also extremely dangerous. According to Decide to Drive, eating or drinking from an open container in a car increases the likelihood of crash or near-crash by almost 40%.
What are the most dangerous things to eat?
Snacking or drinking of any variety behind the wheel counts as distracted driving, but, surprisingly, some foods seem to be more dangerous than others. The 10 most dangerous types of food to eat while driving include hamburgers, tacos, soups, coffee, chili, chocolate, soft drinks and jelly or cream-filled donuts.
The dangers of some of these are more obvious: it is likely that hot liquids will cause a serious distraction if the driver drops the food or beverage container. Hamburgers can also be difficult to eat with one hand while driving.
How can I prevent eating while driving?
The best practice is to eat before you get behind the wheel. You may need to wake up a little bit earlier in the morning to give you enough time to eat breakfast without having to combine this with your commute to work. Additionally, if you are on a road trip, stop to eat your meal at a restaurant rather than getting it from the drive thru.
