There is always a risk of you being involved in a car accident whenever you travel in your vehicle in Queens. Yet it is likely one you are willing to take, based on the assumption that other drivers emphasize safe driving practices just as you do.

There are, however, seemingly mundane tasks that many drivers do while behind the wheel that may not seem dangerous, yet ultimately can distract a driver’s attention from the road. All it takes is a single moment of distraction to cause an accident that leaves you and others injured and in need of compensation. One common distraction is eating while driving.

Eating while driving

Eating of course is one of the most natural actions of life. As such, it seems to hardly take any thought at all. Yet while eating may not require a great deal of concentration, it does prompt actions that drivers should not be engaging in while behind the wheel. Drivers eating may take a hand or both hands off the steering wheel to grasp a food item, as well as divert eyes from the road to watch what they are eating and to avoid spills.

Altogether, these actions add up to risky distractions on the road. According to information compiled through a collaboration of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance, those who eat while driving are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who do not.

A dangerously common distraction

What makes eating while driving especially dangerous is its prevalence. Given that few people think eating while driving is an issue, it should come as little surprise that research conducted by Exxon Mobil showed that as many as 70% of drivers admitted to eating while at the wheel.

How can you know if the driver who hit you might have been eating while driving? Look for telltale signs such as food wrappers on the seats or floor of their vehicles, or fresh food stains on hands or clothing.