When people think of what is most distracting while driving, the most popular answer is usually: mobile phones.
While it’s true that taking a phone call or texting while driving is incredibly dangerous, there are actually a number of other distractions that can be just as hazardous.
However, one that may surprise you the most is eating and drinking while driving. In fact, according to a study, eating or drinking while driving actually increases your likelihood of having a crash by almost 40%. [1]
This makes having a sip of Coke or snacking on a packet of chips behind the wheel almost as dangerous as sending a text message.
Is it even legal?
The technical answer to this question is: well, it depends. Much of the time, whether it’s legal or illegal to eat and drink while driving could come down to the discretion of a police officer. This is because it’s usually up to the cops to determine whether you are driving dangerously and are therefore not in ‘proper control of a vehicle’.
In NSW, for example, if a police officer determines you aren’t in full control of your car, then you could be facing a fine of up to $448 and 3 demerit points. But the bad news doesn’t stop there, if you’re doing this in a School Zone then the fine rises steeply to $561 and 4 demerit points. [2]
Why is it so dangerous?
Eating or drinking while driving means you’re at risk in three areas:
After weighing all this up, it’s pretty clear that eating or drinking while driving isn’t a great idea. But if you feel you’re on the brink of starvation and make the choice to get a bite to eat, we recommend pulling over and eating your food in a restaurant, café or, at the very least, a stationary car.
After all, no matter how appealing it is to take a sip or bite, it’s not worth the risk of a fine, a crash, or something even worse.
[1] https://www.lytx.com/en-us/news-events/press-release/2014/lytx-data-finds-three-dangerous-activities-you-may
[2] http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/s297.html