Many people may think of distracted driving as texting or talking on a cellphone, applying makeup or selecting music, but eating or drinking a beverage while driving can also be a distraction and cause accidents, a posting Jones Junction's website said.
According to the blog post, 70 percent of people admit to having eaten something while driving. Eating while driving isn't illegal, but it can be dangerous.
A study from Lytx shows that drivers eating or drinking any beverage while at the wheel are 3.6 times more likely to be in an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that 65 percent of near-miss incidents are caused by drivers eating or drinking, and research from the University of Leeds shows that drivers eating and drinking are 44 percent and 22 percent slower to react, respectively, than if not eating or drinking.
Eating or drinking behind the wheel may not be as dangerous as texting while driving, but it is still a major issue that can be easily avoided. Jones Junction encourages drivers to resist the urge to eat or drink behind the wheel. It may save lives.
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