It's tempting if you're in a hurry. It's something most people have done at one time or another. But eating is a dangerous distraction while you're driving.
The term "distracted driving" refers to anything that takes your eyes, hands or mind away from driving. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to several surveys by insurance companies and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to a 2006 study released by the NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction within three seconds before the crash.
"Most car accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention," says Eric Bolton, an NHTSA spokesman.
In addition to food and beverages, other common distractions include outside accidents, adjusting the radio, children, pets, objects moving in the vehicle, talking or texting on a cell phone, smoking, putting on makeup, shaving and reading.
"Distraction was most likely to be involved in rear-end collisions in which the lead vehicle was stopped, and in single-vehicle crashes," reports the NHTSA.
A restraining order against food
Hagerty President McKeel Hagerty says his company also often receives claims for damage to the interiors of classic cars caused by food. "It's tough to replace original wool carpets or particular colors of leather seats," he says.
In looking at the company's claims history, Hagerty found that drivers had the most problems during morning commutes, when spills were likely to mar their work attire. Many of those motorists ran into trouble when trying to clean up spills while still driving.
"It really seems it's more the spill than the eating," says Hagerty. "Anything that drips is probably not a good idea."
Hagerty and his staff did a study of their own to see which foods are the worst offenders. They rated foods commonly consumed in vehicles according to each item's popularity, as well as the degree of distraction and the difficulty of eating it with only one hand on the wheel.
Coffee tops the list because of its tendency to spill. Even in cups with travel lids, somehow the liquid finds its way out when you drive over a bump, says Hagerty. "I've certainly spilled my share of coffee while I'm driving, and it's not when I'm trying to drink, it's when I hit bumps in the road."
As if the stains aren't bad enough, hot coffee can also burn, further distracting drivers.
The top 10 food offenders in a car are:
1. Coffee: It always finds a way out of the cup.
2. Hot soup: Many people drink it like coffee and run the same risks.
3. Tacos: "A food that can disassemble itself without much help, leaving your car looking like a salad bar," says Hagerty.
4. Chili: The potential for drips and slops down the front of clothing is significant.
5. Hamburgers: From the grease of the burger to the ketchup and mustard on top, plenty of goop can end up on your hands, clothes and steering wheel.
6. Barbecued food: Similar issue arises for barbecued foods as for hamburgers. The sauce may be great, but it will end up on whatever you touch.
7. Fried chicken: Another food that leaves you with greasy hands, which means constantly wiping them on something, even if it's your shirt. It also makes the steering wheel greasy.
8. Jelly- or cream-filled doughnuts: Has anyone ever eaten a jelly doughnut without some of the center oozing out? And jelly can be difficult to remove from material.
9. Soft drinks: Not only are they subject to spills, but they also can fizz as you're drinking them if you make sudden movements. Most of us have childhood memories of soda fizz in the nose; the sensation isn't any more pleasant now.
10. Chocolate: Like greasy foods, chocolate can coat your fingers as it melts against the warmth of your skin, leaving its mark anywhere you touch. Try to clean it off the steering wheel and you could end up unintentionally swerving.
Most insurance companies don't track specific information on eating and driving. It can be difficult to pin down the exact cause of accidents and separate the various distractions drivers face.
Tips for safe driving
"From breakfast burritos to burgers and fries, eating on the run has turned into an everyday part of our lives," its report says. "Eating while driving is not only dangerous, it's messy and . . . means you're not watching the road."
The Berkeley Lab offers the following tips for drivers tempted to eat and drive:
- Leave a bit earlier to allow yourself time to stop and eat.
- If you're traveling with someone, take turns eating and driving.
Other tips for driving safely:
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Review maps before hitting the road.
- Do your personal grooming at home.
- Use the memory dial feature on your cell phone whenever possible.
- Keep your hands on the wheel.
- Preset your radio stations.
- Don't try to retrieve items that fall to the floor.
- Avoid smoking, eating and drinking while driving.
- Avoid taking calls while driving.
- Teach your children the importance of good behavior in cars.
- Keep your mind on the ride.
- Ask a passenger to serve as your "co-pilot."
- Avoid stressful/emotional/confrontational conversations either with a passenger or on your cell phone.