Posted on 05/05/2006 5:50:56 PM PDT by 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.
I guess the only upside to the story is that even in death he didn't spill his beer.
I personally find that eating those basil thai rolls with the special sauce you dip them into is difficult while driving.
As are Chicken McNuggets with the ranch sauce.
Fondue?
Well, yeah, but what if you're really, REALLY hungry?
But what about take out fries. I hate them cold and they only stay hot for 90 seconds. I always eat them on the way home.
I've never had a problem eating while driving. The after-lunch nap has made for some interesting rides though.
There, now we have balance.
In the words of Senator “Sheets” Byrd, you are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
I am certainly not unemployed. Retarded, well, that’s a tad difficult to assess.
Nonetheless, I stand by my statement: Only an idiot would eat while driving.
No, I mean that knowingly engaging in an unnecessarily hazardous endeavor is sufficient proof, IMHO, that one lacks the judgment to be allowed to drive a motor vehicle on public roads. Eating while driving makes driving far more risky.
Senator Byrd responds: WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
. . . many people are killed & injured fooling around with them. They injure more people than cell phones.
That is true, but car audio can be utilized safely, provided one picks the right time to make adjustments, i.e., don’t fool with the radio when rounding a curve, or when there’s heavy traffic up ahead. Food, IMHO, causes too much of a distraction.
With that commute, you should have went to Tony's. Would be fun trying to eat a 1 pound BTW w/fries on the road!!!!
Must be especially tough driving a stick shift. :)
LOL, all the good stuff! But I did make some changes in my long distance driving & eating habits. Not because I'm not careful in terms of driving, but mostly because I was tired of coffee splotches on my tops!!
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