Can you eat and drink behind the wheel?
Do you tend to snack while driving?
Long car journeys can be exhausting, and a quick snack can give you a much-needed energy boost. But is it even legal to eat and drink while driving?
While it’s not illegal to eat or drink behind the wheel, distractions can put your safety at risk. Make sure you’re always driving with full concentration and consider reviewing your car insurance to ensure you’re covered in case of an accident.
Is it illegal to eat and drive?
The good news is, eating while driving is not illegal, but you should make sure you’re being cautious.
Research by the University of Leeds found the reaction times of motorists who were eating were up to 44% slower than usual. Some of us may focus fully on our food while eating, which could lead to a serious accident.
According to Rule 148 of the Highway Code, “safe driving and riding needs concentration”. If you’re getting distracted by eating, and lose control of your vehicle, you could be prosecuted for careless driving, which carries a fine of £100 and three penalty points on your licence.
In more serious cases, you could be fined £5,000 and get up to nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban.
Can you drink soft drinks while driving?
Similar rules and consequences apply to drinking soft drinks while driving.
It’s not illegal to drink soft drinks but if it results in careless driving, you may be prosecuted and could risk paying a fine of £100 as well as incurring three penalty points.
If you want to avoid the risk, you may choose to not have any drinks in your car, but dehydration could then have an impact on your driving.
Scientists at Loughborough University found that driving while dehydrated can be just as dangerous as drink-driving as it can cause a loss of focus and lead to drowsiness and slower reaction times.
Drinking alcohol behind the wheel is a definite no. If you drink alcohol while driving, you could face three months imprisonment, up to £2,500 fine and a possible driving ban. The maximum fine for being in charge of a vehicle while drunk is capped at £2,500.
Eat, drink (soft drinks) and even watch movies without a worry in self-driving cars. Read more here.
FAQs
Can I drink coffee or water while driving?
Yes, you can legally drink coffee, water, or soft drinks while driving in the UK. But, if you're distracted or lose control, you could still be penalised. Spilling a hot drink like coffee could increase your risk of driving unsafely and could be looked upon negatively should it lead to an accident.
Is it okay to eat while stationary at traffic lights or in a queue?
Even while stopped, you're still legally considered to be "in control" of the vehicle. Eating at a red light could still be viewed as careless if you fail to respond to changes in traffic or miss road signals due to distraction. Not to mention that other drivers could take offence to this if you hold them up.
Are lorry or delivery drivers allowed to eat while driving?
The rules are the same for all drivers. Commercial or delivery drivers may have to abide by stricter company policies, and insurers may take a poor view of distractions that lead to accidents while working.
Can eating behind the wheel affect my car insurance?
Yes. If you're involved in an accident while eating or drinking and are found to be at fault as a result of this, your insurer may refuse to pay out or increase your insurance premium in future. Some policies may view being distracted while driving as negligence.
What’s the best advice for drivers who need to eat on a journey?
Plan ahead and schedule breaks to eat safely
Use service stations, lay-bys or rest areas
It is always better to add 5 minutes to your journey to stop and eat rather than risk an accident while eating behind the wheel.