Should We Ban Eating and Drinking While Driving?
Distracted driving due to cell phone use has been widely discussed, but we all do other things behind the wheel, as well. Perhaps we switch radio stations, put on makeup or shave, or even argue with other passengers. Although equally distracting, eating and drinking while driving tends to be discussed less often.
Grabbing a cup of coffee or a bite to eat while driving only seems logical given our too-busy lives. Eating breakfast while inching along in traffic doesn't seem terribly unreasonable. If we have to take care of personal business during a short lunch break, grabbing something from the drive through and eating on the way might be the only chance we have to eat at all. However, the reasons against eating and drinking while driving are the same as with any distraction: less attentive driving.
When that hot coffee spills in your lap, you're attention isn't on the cars around you. If you're hunting for french fries or trying to unwrap a burger without spilling it, you're eyes aren't on the road. Plus, eating and drinking can't be accomplished hands-free; not only are you distracted, you have less control. No matter where you are or the speed of the traffic, someone could cut you off or stop suddenly in front of you. Considering everything else we have to handle daily, even a little fender bender is time and trouble no one needs.
So, let's ban eating and drinking while driving; that must be the answer. Ban it right along with cell phones, radios, MP3 players, and also other passengers and children, because children are especially distracting. It starts to sound a little ridiculous, but the issues are real for all ages of drivers.
In an ideal world we would all have time to eat at home or enjoy a full lunch break, and we would take care of whatever business we have sometime other than while we're driving. Yet that's not how things are, and while passing laws to ban cell phone use isn't necessarily outrageous, passing one to prohibit eating and drinking sounds frivolous, even though both activities pull attention from the task at hand.
Maybe there should be additional penalties or fines for causing an accident due to any non-driving distraction, though absolute proof could be difficult. Can we get a breathalyzer for food and drink? Not likely. Nevertheless we all go out there and operate big, heavy, metal vehicles capable of inflicting serious damage, and we regularly fail to pay full attention.
Unfortunately, having a driver's license doesn't guarantee that we will always be aware, and even the most cautious among us slip occasionally. Maybe all we can do is educate drivers and, most importantly, take the responsibility on ourselves. People seem to understand the hazards of cell phone use while driving; maybe we need to focus more attention on the danger of other distractions as well, including eating and drinking. We are supposed to be responsible adults, after all, and our wallets aren't the only things at risk.
Grabbing a cup of coffee or a bite to eat while driving only seems logical given our too-busy lives. Eating breakfast while inching along in traffic doesn't seem terribly unreasonable. If we have to take care of personal business during a short lunch break, grabbing something from the drive through and eating on the way might be the only chance we have to eat at all. However, the reasons against eating and drinking while driving are the same as with any distraction: less attentive driving.
When that hot coffee spills in your lap, you're attention isn't on the cars around you. If you're hunting for french fries or trying to unwrap a burger without spilling it, you're eyes aren't on the road. Plus, eating and drinking can't be accomplished hands-free; not only are you distracted, you have less control. No matter where you are or the speed of the traffic, someone could cut you off or stop suddenly in front of you. Considering everything else we have to handle daily, even a little fender bender is time and trouble no one needs.
So, let's ban eating and drinking while driving; that must be the answer. Ban it right along with cell phones, radios, MP3 players, and also other passengers and children, because children are especially distracting. It starts to sound a little ridiculous, but the issues are real for all ages of drivers.
In an ideal world we would all have time to eat at home or enjoy a full lunch break, and we would take care of whatever business we have sometime other than while we're driving. Yet that's not how things are, and while passing laws to ban cell phone use isn't necessarily outrageous, passing one to prohibit eating and drinking sounds frivolous, even though both activities pull attention from the task at hand.
Maybe there should be additional penalties or fines for causing an accident due to any non-driving distraction, though absolute proof could be difficult. Can we get a breathalyzer for food and drink? Not likely. Nevertheless we all go out there and operate big, heavy, metal vehicles capable of inflicting serious damage, and we regularly fail to pay full attention.
Unfortunately, having a driver's license doesn't guarantee that we will always be aware, and even the most cautious among us slip occasionally. Maybe all we can do is educate drivers and, most importantly, take the responsibility on ourselves. People seem to understand the hazards of cell phone use while driving; maybe we need to focus more attention on the danger of other distractions as well, including eating and drinking. We are supposed to be responsible adults, after all, and our wallets aren't the only things at risk.
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