Keep your hands on the wheel, not the corn on the cob

    Aug. 26, 2009
    Exxon surveyed 1,000 drivers and discovered more than 70 percent eat while driving and 83 percent drink beverages. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. In fact, 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve driver distraction.

     

    Exxon surveyed 1,000 drivers and discovered more than 70 percent eat while driving and 83 percent drink beverages. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. In fact, 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve driver distraction.

     According to NHTSA, "Distraction was most likely to be involved in rear-end collisions in which the lead vehicle was stopped, as well as in single-vehicle crashes." Distractions like eating can become a problem for drivers who can't react quickly to a sharp curve or another driver's sudden stop. Unfortunately, just one accident may increase your car insurance rates as much as 25 percent, according to aboutinsurance.com.

    Top 10 foods to avoid while driving include: Coffee -- even with a travel lid, hot coffee can find its way out of the opening when you hit a bump; hot soup --many people drink it like coffee and run the same risks; tacos - any food that can disassemble itself will leave your car looking like a salad bar; chili dogs -- huge potential for drips and slops down the front of clothing; hamburgers -- from the grease to the toppings, it could end up on your hands and the steering wheel; ribs and wings - licking your fingers is certainly distracting; fried chicken -- more greasy hands. You've got to wipe them off while you're driving; jelly donuts -- it's not possible to eat one without watching the center ooze out;  carbonated soda - fizz in the nose, lids that leak, it's a disaster; and chocolate -- try to clean melted chocolate off the steering wheel without swerving.  Other driver distractions that lead to car crashes include: Using a cell phone; reaching for a moving object; looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle; reading or tweeting, and applying makeup.

     I must say though, the most shocking thing I ever saw a driver doing while driving was trying to eat corn on the cob.

    Continue Reading

    Sponsored Recommendations

    Kaeser is the world’s leading air systems specialist and offers a full range of compressed air solutions for almost any application. From industrial compress...
    Take a moment to see the scope of Kaeser's commitment to innovative system designs that guarantee ultra-reliable compressed air, easy maintenance, and greater efficiency.
    Ventilation has a huge impact on the ambient temperature in the compressor room and is often the missing link to temperature regulation issues. Here are four factors to consider...
    Learn how to get a smart, reliable, energy-efficient compressed air system delivered in a turnkey, weatherproof and temperature-controlled enclosure that needs little or no onsite...