The majority of drivers who participate in eating behind the wheel do not realize that eating and/or drinking at the wheel is actually considered distracted driving; however, eating while driving is as dangerous as texting and driving.
Many people understand the dangers of texting while driving, as state after state have adopted cell phone bans; however, a handful of states such as Florida have not yet put such bans in place. Still, the fact remains that texting while driving has been linked to many Sarasota car accidents and wrecks nationwide.
Any activity including texting while driving and eating while driving that takes a driver’s mind off the task at hand, eyes off the road, or hands off the wheel is considered distracted driving and can lead to a Sarasota car wreck.
Some distracted driving activities related to eating at the wheel can include:
- Reaching for or unwrapping food items
- Spilling food items
- Spilling drinks
- Taking one or both hands off the wheel to eat
- Choking
One of the biggest dangers of eating at the wheel is when a driver encounters something unexpected on the road. For instance, when a driver spills food or drink on his lap, he may look down immediately and try to clean himself off. Anything can happen within a couple seconds of that driver looking down and turning his eyes away from the road.
When drivers eat while driving, there is a danger of losing control of the car, rear-ending the car ahead, or swerving into another lane. If you have been injured in a Sarasota crash because of a distracted driver, please call a skilled Sarasota car wreck lawyer at Mallard Perez today for a free, no-obligation consultation at (888) 409-3805.
