According to the California Bureau of Public Safety, “distracted driving” is “anything that distracts your eyes or thoughts from the road or your hands from the wheel.” This can include activities such that many people assume that eating and driving is not reckless. So why would there be drive-thru restaurants if it was so dangerous? Eating while driving can be considered a great distraction in three different ways. It goes without saying that you should avoid it as much as possible. Washington state`s new distracted driving law provides for a $99 fine for various types of distracted trips, such as grooming, eating, reading and smoking while driving, according to an eTags article. This provision states that when operating a vehicle, drivers can get a meal ticket if the activity results in dangerous driving. When most people think of “distracted driving,” they think of people who use cell phones and text messages while driving. In fact, California has specific laws that prohibit the use of handheld devices while driving. However, the problem of distracted driving goes beyond phones and text messages. If a police officer or traffic police officer observes you eating and driving in a manner that shows “intentional or gratuitous disregard for the safety of persons or property,” you may be arrested and charged with reckless driving under California Vehicle Code 23103 VC.
In such a situation, you can ask someone else to take on the responsibility of driving for you, at least for a while. Change with one of your passengers and use this time to eat and rest. This way, you can recharge your batteries without endangering yourself or others in the car. Distracted driving is careless driving. It doesn`t matter if the distraction is a cell phone, a GPS device, a map, or a meal. All drivers are legally required to exercise due diligence on public roads. Allowing an activity other than driving to interfere with safe driving may result in financial liability. Even though eating while driving has become the norm, that doesn`t mean police will see it the same way.
Food could be used as evidence when the driver was distracted. To combat distracted deaths, some states are beginning to review their driving laws. States are now starting to add food and conduct laws to their laws. We`ve already established that eating while driving can be dangerous for you and the people you share the road with. It can also pose a threat to property. Finally, don`t forget to eat before getting in your car. Make it a habit to eat breakfast at home and avoid eating in your car. You may need to wake up earlier to make sure you have time to eat breakfast, but that`s better than being involved in an accident because you ate while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the risk of wreckage while eating and driving increases by 80 percent.
A study conducted by Lytx found that drivers who drank or ate were 3.6 times more likely to have an accident than those who did not. NHTSA even said that most near misses (65%) involve these drivers. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Las Vegas, Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers is here to help. We provide aggressive legal representation to victims of distracted motor vehicle accidents and help our clients claim more for their injuries and losses. If you would like to speak with an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney, call us now at (702)-384-1414 for a free consultation or contact us online. From sandwiches to cheeseburgers to hot wings, today`s drivers have access to all kinds of food thanks to the incredible convenience of restaurant entrance windows. Unfortunately, many drivers don`t know that eating while driving is very dangerous. This behaviour is a form of distracted driving. Just like texting while driving, eating while driving can be a recipe for disaster. Eating food or snacks while driving poses a serious safety risk on U.S. highways.
The potential effects of distracted driving should be more than enough to deter you from engaging in this activity again. But what does the law say? So what can you do to minimize the chances of hunger interfering with your driving? Here are some of the things you should do. As tempting as it may be to eat while driving, it would be best to look at the bigger picture. Avoiding eating while driving can reduce the risk of being stopped for reckless driving or being involved in an accident. If you drive safely, you can avoid possible injuries and damage to your car. Safe driving can even help you avoid a fatal car accident. Whenever you feel hungry or thirsty, wait until you get home to grab something to eat, or stop and enjoy your food before heading back to the streets. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents in the United States. According to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving resulted in the loss of 3,166 lives in 2017. While most of these accidents were caused by cell phone use, the rest were due to other distractions on the road, such as eating. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 people died from distracted driving in 2019.
In a survey conducted by Exxon, more than 70 percent reported eating regularly while driving and 83 percent reported drinking regularly while driving. A police officer may see you eating while driving, but decide not to call you for an offence. In this case, the police officer has probably determined that you still have full control of your vehicle and that you do not pose any danger to anyone on the road. For many, a short drive through the drive-thru and eating along the way is part of life. It`s not uncommon to see someone next to you on the street eating while driving. It may not be the best idea, but is it illegal to eat and drive? Distracted driving is defined by NHTSA as “talking on the phone or texting, eating or drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, and playing with a stereo entertainment or navigation system.” All of these measures distract you from the road and can lead to serious consequences such as injury or death. California`s reckless driving law is extremely vague and broad, giving police officers a very wide margin of discretion when charging someone with reckless driving for eating while driving, even though eating while driving is not illegal per se. Take a little more time to eat and rest before continuing to stay safe. So far, there is no law explicitly prohibiting “eating” while driving. However, depending on how distracted driving laws are worded, local law enforcement may find that shoveling a muffin in the mouth during maneuvers in traffic is enough to warrant a ticket. Now think about what food does to you while driving.