Eating While Driving
SuzySunshine99
Posts: 2,989 Member
I occasionally see posts asking for advice on what's good to eat while driving.
Do you think eating while driving is okay? Do you do it? Why or why not? Have you ever been in/almost been in an accident because of it?
My opinion: Anything that takes your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road is dangerous. I don't buy the argument that you don't have time to eat unless it's in the car.
I was involved in an accident due to the other driver eating while he was driving. He had dropped his food and got flustered.
My husband suffered permanent injuries from being hit by a distracted driver while riding his bike. The woman was texting at the time.
What's your opinion?
Do you think eating while driving is okay? Do you do it? Why or why not? Have you ever been in/almost been in an accident because of it?
My opinion: Anything that takes your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road is dangerous. I don't buy the argument that you don't have time to eat unless it's in the car.
I was involved in an accident due to the other driver eating while he was driving. He had dropped his food and got flustered.
My husband suffered permanent injuries from being hit by a distracted driver while riding his bike. The woman was texting at the time.
What's your opinion?
3
Replies
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Is this even a debate? Of course it's not a good idea. Have I done it? Yes.10
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I used to eat and drive all the time as a door to door salesman back in the 80's and early 90's. Even today I'll eat a sandwich from time to time while driving to work. My last accident that was my fault was in '97 and that's because I didn't know how to drive in the snow (moved to the east coast) and bumped someone's car from the rear.
I think the key is that it shouldn't be food that takes both hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.
I WILL say that I believe long commutes and eating in the vehicle are a direct contributor to people being overweight though.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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I have eaten in the car going from one job to another, or on the way back to work and a short lunch hour, or on a road trip. I have never been in an accident because of it. I have never been close to having an accident while eating in the car. Is it 100% safe no neither is driving a car, talking on the phone in a car, talking to another person who is in the car with you, fiddling with your radio, changing CD's, yelling at kids in the car, driving while upset, and a million other things in a car.
I am sorry that you and you spouse were in accidents due to distracted driving.6 -
I do it very rarely and only on rural interstates, never a good idea though. Just another form of distracted driving like cell phones.
My son was on his motorcycle and was hit busting up his hip went a cell phone user rolled a stop sign.1 -
I have two rules:
1. Do not do any distracting activities (including eating) in heavy traffic; and
2. Do not do multiple distracting things at the same time.
Whatever you eat, make sure there's not some sort of drippy sauce on it, or grease, and make sure you can eat it with one hand--with the other hand on the wheel.3 -
I assume you object to drinking as well then? I e. no water bottle or anything? That would take your hands off the wheel, and block your vision during the drink.
Also, changing radio stations. I know of several accidents because someone looked at the console to adjust the radio station.
Cruise control? People tend to relax then if traffic suddenly slows down, they respond too slowly to hit the brakes because their foot is not "right there".
People who do not have full use of both arms/legs? I.e. someone with a broken hand, or only one arm.
Deaf people? Cant hear horns honking, ambulance/police coming, etc. For that matter, people who turn up the radio too loud.
I dont think the problem is eating/drinking/changing radio stations so much... its the level of involvement and awareness. I .e everyone who drives a manual transmission has to "drive' with one hand at least some of the time. Most people, even if not eating/drinking, do not keep both hands on the wheel at all times while driving. Its not that people are bad at driving with one hand. Its when they do things like dropping their food (as the person above said) - what is their reaction? They look down to find it, they reach down to get it, etc. If they would simply let it go and deal with it when they come to their next stop, it wouldnt be an issue. Changing radio stations - not a big deal if you have presets and know which one you want, especially if its located on your steering wheel etc.
Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
When my son started driving, I told him to think of the car as a 2 ton bullet that can easily kill someone. Treat it accordingly, and responsibly, but dont go overboard. Eating an unwrapped cereal bar is very different than eating a bowl of cereal while driving (and I have seen that as well).
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Never eaten a "meal", but maybe a protein shake or candy and usually only for street driving. I'm a hell on wheels on the highway, so I need to stay focused due to all the idiots, talking/texting on their phones.1
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Eating what? I mean, no, we shouldn't eat anything requiring utensils, or something potentially messy or distracting, or requiring attention to wrapping or dipping or assembly...
But I can certainly eat a granola bar or a peanut butter sandwich while driving, and while it's maybe not ideal, it's pretty low on the list of "distracted driving" priorities. I'm much more concerned about things like texting, talking on the phone, fiddling with an iPod or GPS system.3 -
OP, I have sympathy that your family has been so affected by distracted driving, so I understand why it's a sensitive issue for you. Some states/ municipalities even have laws against eat/drinking specifically or 'distracted driving' in general. When it comes to practicality, though - very few people are focusing on the road and driving as if they were in Driver's Ed and someone was grading everything that you do. Yes, it's ideal to keep both hands on the wheel, but that's almost ever going to be the reality. It's absolutely possible to eat or drink and still be a good driver and pay attention to the road. Maybe don't try to eat soup with a spoon and refrain if you're in heavy traffic, but there's nothing wrong with a sandwich, a snack bar, piece or fruit, etc.3
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I've eaten while driving, but never anything messy. Things like protein bars that only required one hand, and I've never done it in heavy traffic.
I don't always drive with both hands on the wheel, and I don't think most drivers do. I always do when traffic is heavy, though. When I'm cruising along a deserted straight road? Nope.
I don't fiddle with the radio. I find that too distracting. I might adjust the volume, though. I can do that without looking.1 -
I don't generally do it, as I'd rather not eat (until later, even much later) than eat in a way that takes away any pleasure from eating for me, makes it just a distracted thing. Also, I mostly drive alone (and not that much, admittedly), so no one can unwrap a protein bar or hand a sandwich to me, and without that I do find it overly distracting (and potentially messy). I don't find taking a drink from a water bottle to pose the same issue.
Have I ever done it? Sure, but it's been quite a long time. I'm much more likely to sit in a parking lot and eat, worst case scenario.2 -
JeepHair77 wrote: »Eating what? I mean, no, we shouldn't eat anything requiring utensils, or something potentially messy or distracting, or requiring attention to wrapping or dipping or assembly...
But I can certainly eat a granola bar or a peanut butter sandwich while driving, and while it's maybe not ideal, it's pretty low on the list of "distracted driving" priorities. I'm much more concerned about things like texting, talking on the phone, fiddling with an iPod or GPS system.
^This.
It's pretty shocking what I see people doing while they are driving during rush hour here in Boston--eating ramen with chopsticks, applying mascara/curling their eyelashes, smoking from bongs...2 -
I assume you object to drinking as well then? I e. no water bottle or anything? That would take your hands off the wheel, and block your vision during the drink.
Also, changing radio stations. I know of several accidents because someone looked at the console to adjust the radio station.
Cruise control? People tend to relax then if traffic suddenly slows down, they respond too slowly to hit the brakes because their foot is not "right there".
People who do not have full use of both arms/legs? I.e. someone with a broken hand, or only one arm.
Deaf people? Cant hear horns honking, ambulance/police coming, etc. For that matter, people who turn up the radio too loud.
I dont think the problem is eating/drinking/changing radio stations so much... its the level of involvement and awareness. I .e everyone who drives a manual transmission has to "drive' with one hand at least some of the time. Most people, even if not eating/drinking, do not keep both hands on the wheel at all times while driving. Its not that people are bad at driving with one hand. Its when they do things like dropping their food (as the person above said) - what is their reaction? They look down to find it, they reach down to get it, etc. If they would simply let it go and deal with it when they come to their next stop, it wouldnt be an issue. Changing radio stations - not a big deal if you have presets and know which one you want, especially if its located on your steering wheel etc.
Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
When my son started driving, I told him to think of the car as a 2 ton bullet that can easily kill someone. Treat it accordingly, and responsibly, but dont go overboard. Eating an unwrapped cereal bar is very different than eating a bowl of cereal while driving (and I have seen that as well).
Just like shaving with an electric is very different from shaving with a cup and straight edge, have not seen, but spoke to an individual who witnessed it.
YES, in traffic.0 -
I'm a road cyclist. A few years ago, I got hit by a car doing about 35 mph while I was doing hill repeats. The driver ran a red light that should have protected me, she was distracted.
Humans aren't built to travel 70 mph and then stop suddenly. Diving is dangerous, to the people in the car and to everybody around them. That's a big responsibility, don't *kitten* up and hurt or kill anybody.2 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »My husband suffered permanent injuries from being hit by a distracted driver while riding his bike.
God, I hate hearing or reading that.
I'm sorry.0 -
Food is not allowed in the bimmer...4
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It's a pretty bad idea... it's hazardous, and it gets your car messy to boot.0
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I assume you object to drinking as well then? I e. no water bottle or anything? That would take your hands off the wheel, and block your vision during the drink.
Also, changing radio stations. I know of several accidents because someone looked at the console to adjust the radio station.
Cruise control? People tend to relax then if traffic suddenly slows down, they respond too slowly to hit the brakes because their foot is not "right there".
People who do not have full use of both arms/legs? I.e. someone with a broken hand, or only one arm.
Deaf people? Cant hear horns honking, ambulance/police coming, etc. For that matter, people who turn up the radio too loud.
I dont think the problem is eating/drinking/changing radio stations so much... its the level of involvement and awareness. I .e everyone who drives a manual transmission has to "drive' with one hand at least some of the time. Most people, even if not eating/drinking, do not keep both hands on the wheel at all times while driving. Its not that people are bad at driving with one hand. Its when they do things like dropping their food (as the person above said) - what is their reaction? They look down to find it, they reach down to get it, etc. If they would simply let it go and deal with it when they come to their next stop, it wouldnt be an issue. Changing radio stations - not a big deal if you have presets and know which one you want, especially if its located on your steering wheel etc.
Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
When my son started driving, I told him to think of the car as a 2 ton bullet that can easily kill someone. Treat it accordingly, and responsibly, but dont go overboard. Eating an unwrapped cereal bar is very different than eating a bowl of cereal while driving (and I have seen that as well).
There are things you can control and things you can't. A driver can't choose to not be deaf or disabled.
I don't mean to be a total hardliner here...I think that there's a big difference between sipping a water bottle and eating your entire breakfast on your way to work (which is what people often ask for advice on).
Of course there will always be distractions. You can't totally eliminate them, I just want people to think about how they can minimize them.
That is great advice that you gave your son.2 -
I have witnessed a woman driving on a crowded highway, using both hands to hold a cheese burger and driving with her elbows. No good.1
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I do it all the time. I always have one hand on the wheel.1
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I typically eat fast food in my car, but I'm not looking down or taking both my hands off the wheel.1
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SuzySunshine99 wrote: »What's your opinion?
It's a terrible idea.
At best it is the epitome of mindless eating, at worst, it is the epitome of mindless driving...
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I drive manual, so there's no eating while driving in stop and go traffic. I find the biggest problem with eating while driving is not so much the consuming, which can be done one-handed, but the opening/unwrapping. It takes two hands to open a bag of chips, a granola bar wrapper, a wrapped burger if you don't want to spill the contents. If I have to eat in the car, i'll unwrap before I start driving, or leave the parking lot of the fast food joint. I use cupholders to hold snacks, not just drinks. I always put my coffee cup back in the holder between sips to minimize spilling on myself. I think dropping food/spilling drinks is probably the biggest food-related driving distraction.3
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I just retired from a 4 hour daily commute, and yes I eat and drink while I'm driving. I really have to agree with ninerbuff that long commutes and eating in the car contribute to weight gain, at least in my case. It was really easy to dig into a bag of french fries or a bag of cookies without having to mess around with wrappers or drips. Of course there's more nutrient-dense food available with the same convenience, but I was stress-eating, and I think that may be a factor for many people when routinely driving long distances.
I also want to add to the list of things that contribute to distracted driving for me, and that's driving through interesting scenery. I'll catch myself focusing on something I'm driving by, and realize I'm not paying attention to traffic. I've had a couple of near-misses in the past so I'm hyper-aware of that tendency in myself.3 -
while driving?
yeah, either matzo ball soup or bbq ribs are my first choice9 -
I have a "no eating in the car" rule. I don't want garbage, food debris, or sticky fingers on anything. Especially when my car was brand new. There are also enough bad drivers out there that I can't afford to be distracted. A meal bar is about as much as I'd risk eating while driving. My coffee travel mug goes with me every morning, but I pretty much only drink when stopped at a light.2
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Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
I'm guessing you have never driven a stick shift. If so, you would not mention the idea of being able to get the car in the correct gear without looking as an issue.
I've put about 500,000 miles on 2 cars with stick shifts in the last 16 years. When driving a stick, most people will not be eating, messing with phone, make-up, etc because they have to actually be driving the car. I'd maintain, just on my own experience manual transmissions lead to less distracted driving.3 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
I'm guessing you have never driven a stick shift. If so, you would not mention the idea of being able to get the car in the correct gear without looking as an issue.
I've put about 500,000 miles on 2 cars with stick shifts in the last 16 years. When driving a stick, most people will not be eating, messing with phone, make-up, etc because they have to actually be driving the car. I'd maintain, just on my own experience manual transmissions lead to less distracted driving.
That's funny. But I think you're serious. And you've never seen someone eating or putting on makeup while driving a standard.
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Back then, I ate before getting in the car, while in the car, and after exiting the car. Nowadays, not so often. That's a function of simply not getting my calories from drive-through places, or simply choosing to walk in anyway.
I haven't had a stick in about 25 years. It was indeed 'complex' to drive and dine simultaneously.0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »Driving is a very coordinated effort that requires a great deal of attention and personal responsibility. Accidents can be caused by a wide variety of circumstances - some avoidable and personally responsible (texting, etc) some not (a wasp suddenly lands on your face and startles you - happens to me a lot where I live). Everyone should exercise the utmost caution and responsibility, but it is possible to eat or drink and not be any more "distracted" that someone using a stick shift who has to not only let go of the wheel with one hand, but find the right gear without looking, and while simultaneously working the clutch and the gas pedal - to me that is a lot to do at once, while trying to pay attention to the traffic and road etc. Someone taking a bite of a cereal bar is safer to me
I'm guessing you have never driven a stick shift. If so, you would not mention the idea of being able to get the car in the correct gear without looking as an issue.
I've put about 500,000 miles on 2 cars with stick shifts in the last 16 years. When driving a stick, most people will not be eating, messing with phone, make-up, etc because they have to actually be driving the car. I'd maintain, just on my own experience manual transmissions lead to less distracted driving.
That's funny. But I think you're serious. And you've never seen someone eating or putting on makeup while driving a standard.
Of course I have. I said based on my experience it leads to less distracted driving, sure doesn't eliminate it.1
This discussion has been closed.
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