A trip through a drive-thru could lead to a car crash

To avoid a crash, you need to make sure you’re not distracted. What about if you’re hungry or thirsty, though? There are cup holders in your vehicle, so it makes perfect sense that you’d want to have a beverage on hand or swing through a drive-thru on your way to work or another destination. Unfortunately, drinking or eating behind the wheel can distract you and may result in a serious collision.

Distractions put you at risk of a collision

The reality is that distractions put you at risk of getting into a crash. Whether you are manually distracted by picking up a burger or cup or you are visually distracted by looking for something you’ve dropped, you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of being involved in a collision. Thinking about food or what you’re eating and be dangerous or deadly, too. So, what can you do to stay safer on the road? Avoid eating or drinking. Eating and drinking behind the wheel might result in crashes due to:

• Choking on food or a drink
• Dropping hot food on yourself
• Spilling hot or cold drinks
• Unwrapping your food
• Coughing
• Thinking about eating rather than paying attention to the road

Avoid distractions from food or drinks by pulling over to enjoy your meal. If you cannot pull over, ask a passenger to take over and drive while you eat. Remember, it’s better to be late to your destination than not to arrive at all, so if you need a break to eat, take one before you get back to driving.  If you do end up in a crash because another person was being negligent or not paying attention to the road, remember that you can make a personal injury claim. Drivers are expected to pay attention to the road, and even if that distraction was food, they could be held liable.