One in seven people who drive for work purposes, eat a meal at least once a week while driving, research revealed by national road safety charity Brake and Green Flag shows. This is far higher than other drivers, with only one in 25 admitting to eating at the wheel once a week or more.
The survey also found at-work drivers were twice as likely to break the law at least once a week by using a hand-held mobile while driving (one in ten at-work drivers (11%) compared to one in 20 other drivers (5%).) The results indicate that many at-work drivers are much more likely to risk crazy multi-tasking than other drivers, and Brake is urging companies to ensure they instruct employees who drive for them to never eat or take calls while on the move.
Eating while driving can cause a significant delay to reaction times, with research suggesting that a simple task such as eating a bag of crisps while driving slows down reaction times by 29%.
In June 2007 a Dutch lorry driver was jailed for eight weeks and banned from driving for a year after being found eating a plate of spaghetti while driving erratically along a dual carriageway in North Wales. He admitted dangerous driving.
This rather beggars belief doesn’t it? Bet his wife was not too impressed when she saw the state of his newly laundered shirt!