CLEVELAND, Jul 20, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Distractions cause 80 percent of
vehicle crashes and a Cleveland auto insurance agency lists its top 10 food
distractions.
Insurance.com in Cleveland, an online auto insurance agency, says the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation
Institute found 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve
driver distraction.
Insurance.com recommends the 10 foods to avoid while driving are:
-- Coffee, because even with a travel lid, hot coffee can find its way out of
the opening when hitting a bump.
-- Hot soup, because many people drink it like coffee and run similar risks.
-- Tacos, which can disassemble and leave a car's interior looking like a salad
bar.
-- Chili dogs, which provide huge potential for drips and slops down clothing.
-- Hamburgers, because the grease and the toppings could end up on hands and
clothing.
-- Ribs and wings, which are greasy and lead to the temptation to lick fingers,
taking hands off the wheel.
-- Fried chicken, which can result in greasy hands.
-- Jelly donuts because of the risk of the jelly oozing out.
-- Soda, because of fizz in the nose, and lids can leak.
-- Chocolate, because melted on the hands it can make the steering wheel
slippery.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International