Did you get up late? Do you only have a limited amount of time to get to your next destination? If so, then you may decide to eat as you travel in order to save time.
The problem with doing so is that it is a form of distracted driving. Many of the safety campaigns for distracted driving tend to focus on using your cellphone, which is certainly quite dangerous, but another activity increases the chances of an accident as well — eating while driving.
So, what are people eating as they drive?
A survey conducted by Insure.com showed that around 70% of people agree that eating and driving is a form of distracted driving, yet many still do it, even here in Denver. Like others, you may wonder what it is that people are eating while they should be driving. Below are the top five foods for 2020 listed from number one to number five:
- Energy or granola bars
- French fries
- Potato chips
- Candy bars
- Hamburgers
Men and drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 preferred French fries as their driving snack. Women and people age 65 and up chose energy or granola bars most often, even though both groups say they don’t usually eat while driving. The most cited reason for eating and driving was that they had a long commute. Other reasons included saving time and convenience.
Approximately 48% of the survey respondents said they only eat foods they can easily handle. Another 28% said they eat foods they like and that are convenient. Only around 17% said they consider how easy it will be to handle the food they choose to eat as they drive.
What happens after an accident with an eating driver?
If you suffer serious injuries in a crash involving a driver who was eating at the time, you may be focusing on how you will deal with the financial losses you are incurring and will continue to incur for the unforeseeable future. Instead of worrying about your financial situation, you need the freedom to focus on your recovery and your family at this time. You may exercise your right to pursue compensation through the filing of a personal injury claim.
Instead of attempting to navigate the claim process alone, you could turn to an experienced attorney for help. An attorney can advise you of your rights, give you an honest assessment of your claim and let you know what he or she believes will be the best course of action going forward. With the right advocate, you can turn your attention back to recovering from your injuries and getting your life back on track.