Behind the Wheel

Recent research studies suggest that roughly 20% of meals are consumed in an automobile. "Meals" in this context includes all types of eating episodes: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Today's multi-tasking American doesn't have time to waste behind the wheel so makes sure that every minute of his day counts toward some personal goal, professional ambition or necessity of life. Since you don't need your mouth to operate a car, talking and eating are the most popular activities performed in the driver's seat. And unless you drive a stick shift, you really only need one hand. Although, I do know caffeine addicts who drink coffee while driving a manual transmission.

Long distance commuters are likely to make a habit out of hitting the drive-thru for a latte or bagel on their way to work. Why wake up any earlier than you have to, to fix yourself a bowl of cereal at home when there's a Dunkin' Donuts on your way to the interstate? Others, myself included, either get the munchies or need something to do when inadvertently stuck in traffic - that's when the stash of nuts in the glove compartment comes in handy.



Eating while driving has been indicted by nutrition authorities for its contribution to the obesity epidemic. It's a pretty simple equation. Sedentary lifestyle + fast food = weight gain, high blood pressure and diabetes. However, less attention has been paid to the short-term safety hazard. A 2006 study revealed that 80% of car crashes involved some type of driver distraction. While this number includes all all types of distractors, such as children, pets and cell phones; food & beverage spills were often the primary nuisance. Coffee is the most obvious problem but insurance adjustors have to deal with the aftermath of soup, ice cream, hamburger and other messy food mishaps. So if you have no choice but to put something in your mouth during your commute, insurance experts suggest you choose things that are not hot, greasy, or gooey. Granola bars (without chocolate chips that can melt on your hands) and pretzels are pretty benign. And if you need a drink, nothing quenches thirst like old-fashioned water - it won't burn or stain if it spills.

You should also be aware that crashing is not the only immediate risk you take when eating in the car. The Daily Mail (a UK newspaper) reported this past June that swabs taken in typical family cars found germs that can cause food poisoning on the steering wheel, gear stick and door handles. How often do you clean your car? Probably not nearly as often as you disinfect your kitchen sink and countertops. Why would you treat your car as you would the dinner table when it was not intended for the same purpose? Nevertheless, the risk of contracting a staph infection or contaminating your just-purchased burrito with bacillus cereus (which can cause vomiting and diarrhea) is real. The latter little bugger is a sneaky one. It can form spores which lie dormant until conditions are just right. When exposed to heat, from the car heater or the sun, bacillus cereus comes back to life and isn't shy about giving you a tummy ache - did you think it was from the stress of driving during rush hour? Think again.

Leaving food remains and crumbs in your car or bringing Fifi along for a ride just increases the chance that your vehicle will harbor nasty germs. You can blame the federal government for failing to protect the country's food supply all you want, but don't go crying to the CDC when your family falls ill in the SUV.