Eating and driving is one of the main factors in causing car wrecks, fender benders, and car accidents. Eating and driving has become popular in recent years because of how quickly society is moving. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to be done. Unfortunately, people have been trying to save time by doing two things at once. However, eating and driving is an action that could be fatal.
Multitasking
In modern society, multitasking is acceptable and praised. But when it comes to driving on speedy freeways with commuters, it is vital to concentrate on one task at a time. Eating and driving may seem like helpful multitasking, but in reality it is putting yourself and others in grave danger.
Reaction and Response Time
Just like with drinking and driving, eating and driving shortens your reaction and response time. The choices you make in mere seconds can predict whether or not you will have an accident or whether you will avoid it. If you are holding a hamburger and your hand is not on the steering wheel, you could miss those crucial seconds that could determine your fate. Because eating and drinking shortens your reaction time, you are putting yourself in a very dangerous position.
Increase Statistics for an Accident
In general, as a driver on the road there are already statistics for having an accident. However, by eating and driving, the statistics for having an accident skyrocket. This is especially true during the morning and evening hours when commuters are either going to work or returning home from work.
Hot coffee, soups, sandwiches and soft drinks may seem harmless but they increase your statistics for having an accident. It’s better to pull over to the side of the road, eat, and then get back on the road and finish the commute.
Major Distraction
There is already an increased risk for distraction when you are eating and driving, however, if you spill hot coffee or hot soup onto your lap as you are driving then you will be in a full panic. Chances are you will be so distracted by what just happened that you completely ignore the road and could head straight on into a car accident, or worse, a multiple car wreck.
It’s not just that eating and driving are distractions from others on the road, they are also distractions from the driver’s actions. One spill of coffee could lead to swerving into another lane. At best you will be wearing your meal to work and at worse you will cause a great amount of pain to yourself and to others by getting into a car wreck.
Eating and driving may seem like a good idea at the time, but the cost of an accident far exceeds the time that is saved by eating in the car. Begin to plan your day the night before. Plan your meals and when you will eat them. Go grocery shopping and organize yourself daily. It is worth every effort to keep yourself and other safe. The convenience of eating and driving is simply not worth the disaster it might cause.
Christopher Steven is an avid blogger encouraging safety for all communities while working with the Gorospe & Smith Tulsa Personal Injury Lawyer Firm to educate and promote safety and accident prevention.
