Eating while driving is quite common. People are always in a rush to get to work, school or the next errand. Accordingly, they may choose to eat in transit. Even though this seems like a time-saving idea, it’s dangerous. Eating is a distraction for drivers; hence, it can contribute to an accident.
Here is how this can happen:
Hands off the wheel
Some foods, such as burgers and sandwiches, require a person to use both hands to eat. Thus, a driver may need to take their hands off the steering wheel to consume these foods. It can be challenging for such a driver to respond quickly when needed.
Picking food
Foods like French fries can drop. If a driver picks it to avoid wasting food or to prevent it from staining the car, they will take their eyes off the road. Accordingly, they can swerve. If you are overtaking such a driver, they might hit you.
Cleaning off sauce
When sauce drips on a driver’s clothes, they will want to wipe it before it stains. Thus, they will find wipes or napkins and may need to look at the stain to clean it. This means their concentration will be away from the road for a few minutes.
Burns
If hot coffee spills on a driver, it will burn them. This can lead to a reflex that can take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. In turn, they may lose control of the vehicle.
Blocking the view
Some drinks are put in large cups that may block a driver’s view upon drinking. Anything can happen within those few seconds of not seeing the road.
If a distracted driver injures you, it will help to learn about your rights and legal options. Contact a Denver car accident injury attorney today for a free, no obligation consultation.
