Eating and drinking while driving is a common practice. It is so common that manufacturers install cup holders in vehicles.

Despite being relatively common, eating and drinking while driving are actually dangerous activities. Technically, consuming a meal or a drink on the road can result in all three forms of distraction.

1. Visual distraction

People reaching into a bag for the last few fries or a packet of hot sauce might need to look away from the road. The same is true when someone eating at the wheel spills in their lap. Visual distraction can increase reaction times and lead to people failing to notice alarming changes in traffic, such as an animal in the road.

2. Manual distraction

A driver eating a cheeseburger has to have at least one hand off the wheel. Even a cup of coffee requires that a driver release their grip on the steering wheel. The need to set an item down and reposition the hand on the wheel can drastically increase how long it takes a driver to maneuver in traffic.

3. Cognitive distraction

Mental distraction is arguably the most dangerous type of distraction while driving. People who do not focus mentally can overlook key details and make devastating mistakes. Eating may divide people's focus while they manage their food or enjoy their meal. It can also prove cognitively distracting if people spill something while driving.

If distraction may have played a role in a crash, then the driver who wasn't paying attention may be at fault for the wreck. Proving that a motorist had food or drink in their hands when they caused a car crash can help other people hold that irresponsible driver accountable for their poor choices.