How to Eat and Drive

Discover how to eat and drive without wrecking car or clothes

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• car, truck or other vehicle
• food
• driver's license
• drive time

1. Select Your Food
   
   One of the most important steps to successfully eating and driving is selecting your food. Any food that requires utensils or special handling is out. Pick simple foods to start. Grapes, cheese cubes, chicken nuggets or other bite-sized morsels. Once you develop a technique that works for you for negotiating bite-sized food, you can graduate to one-handed sandwich eating. Be extra careful with hamburgers or other greasy foods. Avoid crunchy taco shells, anything with drippy sauce and any food that needs to be eaten very hot. Most people can't resist the lure of hot coffee in the morning however. If your morning drive wouldn't be complete without coffee, invest in a travel mug with a tight lid.

2. Arrange Your Food
   
   How you arrange your food in your car is as important as the food you select. Arrange all your food carefully before you start driving. Make sure that everything is in a place where you can reach it one handed without need for over-reaching. If you have to lean your body in any way, it's too far away!
   
   Wedge the food firmly in its location in the vehicle so that it doesn't spill if you have to brake suddenly. Make sure you don't buy a drink that is too large for your drink holder or one of those top heavy cups that will topple at the first major slow down.
   
   Spread a napkin or two in your lap before you begin as well to catch any escaped bits.

3. Eat and Drive!
   
   Wait until you are underway and traveling smoothly before beginning to eat your food. You don't want to try to take a bite while in the acceleration lane! Keep your best hand firmly on the wheel at all times and don't get so distracted by eating that you start driving badly.
   
   Don't keep food in your lap. If you have to stop suddenly, it's likely to end up under your feet. Toss food into the next seat if you need to put it down quickly, or hand it off to a passenger.
   
   Take small, careful bites and sips. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Pick compact, easy to handle food. No tacos
• Pick non-drippy food. No sloppy joes.
• Keep a good supply of napkins in your vehicle. Wet wipes are an excellent investment.
• Remove trash when you reach your destination. Don't litter inside your car or out!
• Eating and driving may not be legal in your area. Check your local laws.
• Avoid very hot foods, messy food and distracting to minimize risk of accident or injury

Resources

• Special Glove for Eating on the Go
• 10 Most Dangerous Foods to Eat While Driving

[Clairejoy]

on 2/1/2009 haha I needed this article when I was a pregnant pizza delivery driver working 80 hours a week.

[tunakoyo]

on 1/22/2008 It can be safe to eat while driving depending on how you approach it. A cup of cheese cubes like mentioned would work well in a cup holder. :] A burrito or a hamburger is not safe though. Chicken nuggest can be too crumbly sometimes though depending on where they are from.