Don’t eat and drive
JOHANNESBURG – Eating and drinking while driving can double your chances of causing an accident
According to a study conducted by Brunel University in London, drinking and eating while driving doubles the likelihood of having a car accident.
Bianca de Beer, spokesperson for insurance company Dialdirect, said while most of us avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or checking our cellphones until we’ve reached our destination, there is one dangerous habit that many motorists were guilty of and that is eating and drinking at the wheel.
“It’s an often overlooked as a distraction, but a snack can be more distracting than a conversation with the passenger next to you,” said De Beer.
While there are strict measures in place to prevent drivers from operating a vehicle under the influence, or from texting on their cellphones while sitting at a stop sign, there are no official rules in South Africa to stop you from eating while driving.
Read: Do’s and Don’ts at accident scene
“I believe that we need to extend our personal discipline by turning off our phones, putting down our sandwiches, and just focusing on the road when we’re driving,” emphasized De Beer.
According to a study based on food-related insurance claims from insurance.com, here are the top 10 worst items to eat or drink while behind the wheel:
1. Coffee
2. Soup
3. Wraps (or any kind of saucy sandwich)
4. Mince
5. Hamburgers
6. Braai meat
7. Fried chicken
8. Filled donuts
9. Soft drinks
10. Chocolate
Details: www.dialdirect.co.za
Read more:
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