This Cause of Distracted Driving May Surprise You

While there’s no state-wide ban in Texas on the use of cellphones while driving, most of us know about the dangers of talking on the phone or texting while driving. But did you know there is another, quite common, cause of distracted driving which can lead to the same potentially tragic consequences as cellphone use while driving?

A study by researchers at the University of Leeds found that eating while driving could reduce a driver’s reaction time, potentially causing a 44 percent slower response time, while drinking a beverage while driving resulted in reaction times that were up to 22 percent slower than normal.

Another study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that eating or drinking while driving may be behind 80 percent of all car accidents. While burgers made the list of the worst foods to eat while driving, the worst culprit was coffee.

Are these research results being taken seriously? The answer appears to be, yes. Just last month, the New York Times(NYT) reported on a man in Georgia, Atlanta, who was given a traffic citation for “eating while driving”. The man had been spotted by law enforcement eating a burger from a fast food chain while driving.

Watching out for eating while driving isn’t limited to Atlanta, either. Many states include eating as a form of distracted driving on their safe driving websites. And Kentucky State Police, during a road safety campaign last year, said state troopers would be watching for eating while driving as well as texting while driving.

After a car accident, an experienced attorney is one of the few people who will advocate for your best interests. Robert Greening is the principal attorney at Greening Law, P.C. He has dedicated his 24 years of practice to the litigation of wrongful death and serious injury cases. If you have any questions, contact Greening Law, P.C. at 972-934-8900.