The Most Dangerous Foods (to eat while driving)

yahoo ^ | May 2,2006

[nuconvert]

The Most Dangerous Foods

May 2,2006

By Selena Maranjian

We all should know that a package of raw chicken forgotten overnight on a kitchen counter will become a dangerous food. We also likely know that blowfish is risky, able to kill its ingesters if improperly prepared. But a clean, well-made cup of coffee? Dangerous? As it turns out, it's all about where you drink it. The folks at Insure.com, who focus on the exciting arena of insurance, recently released a list of "The 10 Most Dangerous Foods to Eat." Okay, that title actually included these words at the end: "While Driving." Still, danger is danger.

Their intent was to publicize how dangerous it can be to drive while eating and/or drinking. And we're not talking alcohol here -- coffee was No. 1 on the list, followed by hot soup. Before I share the list with you, here are some sobering statistics:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that distractions in cars caused about 25% of car crashes. The Response Insurance Agency surveyed drivers in 2000, finding that eating while driving was the No. 2 driving distraction (after fiddling with the radio and before turning to chat with passengers). Some 57% of drivers admitted to eating and driving. A 2001 survey of ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM - News) drivers found that nearly three-quarters eat while driving, up from 58% in 1995. A whopping 83% drink non-alcoholic beverages while driving. Some research suggests that dealing with spills and messes is even more troublesome than eating or drinking. Either way, dining at the wheel clearly leads to a lot of trouble.

Here is Insure.com's list of the top offenders:

Coffee

Hot soup

Tacos

Chili

Hamburgers

Barbecued food

Fried chicken

Jelly or cream-filled donuts

Soft drinks

Chocolate

This issue is a big deal. It doesn't just cause damage or death -- it costs us all money. More accidents mean that either we or insurance companies are picking up the tab. Insurance companies are aware of the problem and are looking into what they might do about it.

You can learn more about the less-dangerous-but-still-critical topic of insurance in our Insurance Center. You may not have thought about some kinds of insurance, such as disability or long-term care insurance, but they're vital for many people. And, of course, properly insuring your property is vital, too. Take a little time to learn more. You may be very happy you did, especially if some calamity occurs in the future.

[joesnuffy]

you guys got it all wrong....

Aggies know...the MOST dangerous food to eat while driving is.......


Road Kill

[Wombat101]

All I know was it was the single most stupidest decision I ever made in my entire life.

And that includes the time I listened to the "sports agent" (i.e. licensed bandit in a fancy suit) that told me I was such a good hockey player (at 5' 7", 160 pounds..go figure!) that I could skip my last two years of college and go pro. My pro career lasted exactly six games, and one broken orbital bone, in the AHL. I almost lost my eyesight over it and hung the skates up for good.

[SamAdams76]

I used to do some pretty complicated driving back in my eating days. For example, I used to go to the supermarket and get a loaf of bread and some deli meat and cheese. Then I'd drive and assemble sandwiches along the way until the entire loaf of bread was consumed. Then I'd stop at a car wash and vacuum out the car because it sure was a mess by that point.

[El Conservador]

Nope, it's a bagel sandwich with steak, scrambled egg and cheese.

[ChocChipCookie]

Right. It is the totals that they use to arrive at their conclusion of dangerous foods, not the ratio of instances to accidents.

i.e.
1,000,000 hamburgers eaten today: 1 accident = .0001%
2 idiots eating linguine alfredo: 1 accident = 50%

[A knight without armor]

Right on! I never could eat and walk at the same time. Chew gum maybe, but not eat. I have to hold still and look at the food. I could never be actively doing something such as driving and eat, taste, digest food. I don't see how the people enjoy the food at all.

[swmobuffalo]

"but I can not eat fast food while driving. I get it everywhere. My husband can but he's spoilt. He has me to unwrap and prepare it for him."

I can't do that even when I'm not behind the wheel. Your hubby sounds like mine! He'll hand me the wrapper to take care of when he's through.

[P-40]

You should never ever eat that while driving.

We had a rollover accident here that would have been minor had the deceased worn a seatbelt...and not been eating...and applying makeup, which they knew she was doing because it was still in her hand.

[Westlander]

'Does that count as distracted?'

No. The only thing distracting for me
is Granholm, Levin, Stabenow, Conyers,
Kwaimster Kilpatrick and his mama.

[Ladysmith]

LOL!!!

[stylecouncilor]

LOL

[Don Carlos]

I can see how a foot-long chili dog with onions and jalapenos could be a problem.

[Chena]

Well, doesn't that just "puck". LOL We're hockey fans. :)

[manwiththehands]

It's OK if she's driving.

[Trteamer]

I think it would be fun to get a big bucket of KFC chicken, and circle PETA's headquarters in a pickup truck. Just throw the bones in the back of the truck as you go by. LOL!

[CindyDawg]

Well, actually is you keep it in that white container, chilli dogs are controlable:')

[ketelone]

Hahah no doubt that sandwich went towards feeding many of the various critters that inhabit that pristine desert environment...

Consequently, Ive had an irrational dislike of Arizona, though I have no right to.

I made it out fine, I was collected by the local volunteer fire dept, sat around at the only gas station cum restaurant in the 'town' and I got a ride with a real nice worker at the local gas station to the nearest town with a motel (60 miles away... Sanford, AZ), when he got off his shihft and was headed home...

Next morning, I caught a Greyhound onwards to the final destination... good ol Houston, TX...

I'd told my dad what had happened, and told him not to tell my mom. Course my dad with his ingenuity and inventiveness, just told her i'll be a day late, without assigning any particular reason to the fact :)

I have to say, mom was pretty damned mad at me when she found out that all this was about an Italian BMT and cheese (honey oat bread).

The lessons I learned... dont digest and drive...

and random people can be real nice to you, when youre in trouble. So just pass it on.

[goodnesswins]

YEP....and at WHAT SPEED? There's a difference between driving and eating on a 5 lane freeway going 60-80 mph, and driving and eating on a country lane going 35....PLUS....COFFEE????COFFEE???? Just something here to write about....what they won't do to get people to read.....LOL.

[Don Carlos]

I can't eat em at a table without making a mess!

Here babe, lemme hold the wheel while ya get that last bite out from between ur ...

[Bat_Chemist]

I just can't believe that Beer didn't make the list!!!