Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | July 24, 2024 | Florida Law
In a world where multitasking has become the norm, many drivers barely give a second thought to scarfing down a quick meal as they travel from place to place. This raises a pertinent question: is it illegal to eat and drive at the same time?
The state of Florida has no specific law that forbids eating while driving. Even so, it’s important to consider the broader implications — and potential consequences.
Is Eating While Driving Illegal?
Florida’s laws on inattentive driving mostly target manual activities that take attention away from the road, such as texting or fiddling with navigation apps. Florida Statute 316.305 restricts the use of wireless communication devices while driving to prevent such distractions.
While eating behind the wheel isn’t explicitly mentioned in this statute, any activity that hinders your ability to safely operate a vehicle could be considered a distraction. So, is eating while driving illegal in practice?
Can You Eat While Driving?
Technically, no. It all hinges on whether the behavior leads to negligent or reckless driving.
Even though there’s no outright ban in the law books, drivers must nonetheless make sure their eating habits don’t compromise their focus or control while on the road. Police can issue citations for careless driving under Florida Statute 316.1925 if their actions prove to be unsafe.
Potential Consequences of Eating While Driving
It’s not technically illegal to eat and drive. Still, doing so can have severe repercussions.
Eating requires the use of at least one of your hands, often both. Messy, greasy, and crumbly foods can divert your attention from the road and make operating a vehicle even tougher. It also affects your ability to properly handle your vehicle and increases your chances of causing an accident.
Most drivers are aware that being involved in a collision can increase their insurance premiums. When the accident is the driver’s fault due to taking their eyes off the road, including while eating, they may also face difficulties during claims processing, along with fines, points against their license, and more serious charges.
Noteworthy Distracted Driving Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), inattentive driving caused 3,308 deaths in a recent year. Not all of these accidents involved eating, but the NHTSA identifies food and beverages as common distractions for drivers.
Moreover, a study by the University of Leeds found that the act of eating increases driver reaction time by 44%. That’s compared to a 37% increase while texting and a surprising 12.5% increase with a barely legal blood alcohol level of 0.08.
Safety Tips
To minimize the risks that come with eating and driving in Florida, implement the following best practices:
- Eat meals before or after your trip to avoid distractions
- If you have to eat, go for snacks that are easy to handle and don’t require much attention, like granola bars or sliced fruit
- Should the need arise, pull over to eat in a safe area, such as a parking lot
- Always prioritize safe driving over everything else
By making a few small changes to your habits, you can protect yourself and everyone else on the road.
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Although it’s not explicitly illegal to eat while driving in Florida, doing so can lead to serious accidents and legal consequences. Drivers should focus on safety by minimizing distractions and keeping their attention on the road and their vehicles at all times. That way, grabbing a bite on the go won’t come back to bite them.
Contact an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer from Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law for Help Today
For more information, please contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Orlando today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Orlando, Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville, and Palm Bay
We proudly serve Orange County, Brevard County, and the surrounding areas:
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Orlando Office
964 Lake Baldwin Ln Ste. 200 Orlando, FL 32814, United States
(407)-801-3000
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Melbourne Office
1600 W Eau Gallie Blvd #205j, Melbourne, FL 32935
(321)-334-3929
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Cocoa Office
717 S Cocoa Blvd STE 203, Cocoa, FL 32922
(321)-517-2079
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Titusville Office
4527 S Hopkins Ave Suite B, Titusville, FL 32780
(321)-455-5182
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Palm Bay Office
4620 Lipscomb street N.E Suite #3K, Palm Bay, FL 32905
(321)-334-3819