Many commuters engage in distracted driving on their way to work or back home at the end of the day. The main form this takes is texting and driving. Most people are well aware that this is very dangerous and often illegal, but they do it anyway.
However, even a driver who stays off their phone could certainly be distracted. Another common form of distracted driving is drinking coffee in the car. This could be a serious issue for many commuters who buy a cup of coffee on the way to work every single day. They may not realize that they’re distracted, but they increase the risk of accidents during some of the times when traffic levels are the heaviest in the morning.
Why is coffee a problem?
It’s not coffee itself that’s the issue, but the act of drinking it in the car. For one thing, the driver has to hold the coffee cup, creating a manual distraction because they can’t grip the steering wheel. On top of that, if the driver tips the cup upward to take a drink, it blocks a significant portion of their vision, meaning they can’t see the road, and they are visually distracted.
So, even in the best of cases, the driver could overlook crucial details or lose control of the vehicle. In the worst cases, they could drop the cup of hot coffee on their lap or on the floor of the vehicle. Many people will panic and react instinctively in such a situation, which could cause a serious crash.
Seeking financial compensation
Even if you avoid drinking coffee in the car, you could be injured in an accident caused by another commuter. If you are, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
