Eating Whilst Driving, Do You Do It?

whilst not illegal, in NSW you can be fined $448 and 3 demerit points

so it's up to the police officers discretion to determine whether you have proper control of the vehicle.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-th…

has anyone here been fined under these circumstances?

I have eaten whilst driving, nothing that requires 2 hands, usually a sandwich or ice cream.

I haven't been fined, nor do i know anyone that has.

however i have seen some outrageous attempts at cereal, rice, noodles, pizza, hamburger eating whilst driving. The morning commutes is probably the worst

probably the same goes for putting on makeup, getting dressed, grooming, reading

Poll Options

  • 1
    I don't drive but eat other people car
  • 8
    I eat and drive while the car is not moving
  • 4
    I eat apples and throw the core out the window.
  • 1
    I don't allow anyone to eat in my car because my dad actually paid for the car and he won't pay to g
  • 64
    I have picnics and 5 courses meals while driving

Comments

  • +2

    I had a friend that would wedge her bowl of cereal into the steering wheel whilst on the motorway… It was frightening and awesome at the same time

  • +12

    I usually have a fondue to start, lobster main and flaming B-52 for dessert during my morning commute. It's a great way to save time when I need to be in the office early.

    • so does the waiter tootle along in the motorcycle, with the sidecar, beside you and then pass the dishes through the window?

      • +6

        Don't be ridiculous! Motorcycles are a death trap!!

        I have a fondue burner in the centre console, a hotplate on the passenger seat, a mini bar in the glove box and dinnerware under the seats.

    • no wine with that meal… drink driving would have been totally unacceptable.

    • flaming B-52

      I see nothing wrong with everything else, but this is either too large to fit into any passenger vehicle (also a fire hazard), or you'll get done in for drink driving.

    • +1

      Are you serious? That's absolutely terrible. You should always start your day with a light breakfast, like a muesli with fruit.

      • muesli with fruit

        Way too many carbs!

    • the b52's would be really great for getting you started early in the morning.

  • +3

    definitely do it - especially when its one of Maccas 30 days 30 deals and I can't wait to get home.

  • +3

    There's no eating in my car - irrespective of if you're the driver

    • +5

      Yes Dad.

    • Everyone need take shoes off too?

      • nope, just no eating

        In fact, shoes should stay on

  • I'd hope you'd get fined for eating anything. Even something as simple as a sandwich, a bit of chicken could fall out and you eyes get drawn to it and end up looking away from the road. BAM. 12 dead kids and two dogs. People are way too lax on driving safety in oz.

    • +1

      I mean - in terms of eating in the car, a sandwich is already a fairly advanced skill. I can see someone having like a muesli bar while driving. Especially if driving auto - what's the other hand doing anyway?

      • +3

        Especially if driving auto - what's the other hand doing anyway?

        Fondling the gear stick.

        • there is a "Sophie Tucker" joke similar to that - but I would be banned.

    • nah. I have seen people eating whilst driving, and they had full control. At the same time, I have seen driver talking to the passengers, both hands off the wheel, waving like an orchestra conductor, speed all over the places. We should ban people talking in the car.

      • +4

        We should ban people talking in the car.

        I hear it's illegal in Italy.

    • I'd hope you'd get fined for eating anything.

      there is no road rules in nsw that prohibits a motorist from eating while operating a motor vehicle. it's common sense and socially acceptable behaviour.

      • are you still doing your court case for the kids you killed while eating a big mac?

        • Big Mac are to difficult eat with one hand. Wicked wings and Quarter Pounder are easier.

    • eating, changing radio stations, holding a conversation - they all should be finable offenses for those that can't do it safely, but for those who can, let them.

      It sounds like NSW have the law right. The only offense is not having proper control of the car.

      • everyone will assume they are in complete control of their car, that is until something happens and some one else tells them otherwise.

        • I'm in a loan car atm and was testing out the active cruise. It brakes heavy at lights to bring to a complete stop, then 3 chimes, then releases brake!
          Apparently that 3 chimes is to wake up driver to say control is back in his court. I suspect there will be more bingles at traffic lights than ever before.

          oh, and if the cruise isn't on, of course, it doesn't stop you. So if you thought you had cruise on, but you were mistaken, that's going to test the emergency collision avoidance. If that is turned off or not working, hmmm.

          • @SlickMick: we have a Subaru forester, and that emergency collision thing that brakes on it own stops really hard. can definitely try to avoid ever having that happen again.

            • @Archi: lol that's what I'm driving atm. I haven't experienced it myself, and true - never want to :)

  • What about a coffee or water?

  • +2

    Quite frankly they should incorporate eating as part of the driving test. If you can handle a McDonald's Big Mac ($2 tomorrow, by the way) with sauce and pickles dripping on your lap as you lick your thumb whilst keeping your vehicle relatively still within your designated lanes - then I'd say your ready to start tackling Sydney's crazy roads and chaotic traffic.

    • +2

      Why did you have to remind me it's $2 tomorrow? :-(

  • +1

    They sell nuggets in drive through. Obviously someone does it.

  • +1

    I eat lunch in my car every work day, I eat driving between jobs. I eat nuts, fruit, salad items cut into lengths and the occasional chicken leg. I have more control of my car than I did when driving with my kids when they were little. I mean being distracted, not that I used to gnaw on their chubby little arms.

    • that screams deflection. no i never murdered anyone. i didn't eat the kids arms either

  • Once saw a van being driven on a busy road (aren't they all) in Hong Kong. Driver was eating out of a food container which he had balanced on the dash between the steering wheel and windscreen…using chopsticks.

  • I'll admit to it. Often I'll spend an hour or more going on roads that see very little or no traffic at all. You gotta eat somehow on those long drives without a town or any pull over area nearby.

    • Same. I eat apples driving all the time then I throw the core out the window for the birds. Nothing gets wasted.

      • You should eat the core too.

        • If you swallow some apple seeds, smoke some cigarettes. The smoke will suffocate the bacteria in your stomach.

    • is that not why cars now have active cruise and lane departure assistance? Car manufacturers know we need to eat.
      I think they'll soon have mini kitchens in the dash

  • +1

    Thread needs a poll.

    • +1

      Wicked wings and Quarter Pounder should be on the top of the list.

  • +1

    Drinking yes… (not hot liquids). Eating as a driver? Hell no! Eating as a passenger I do feed the driver sometimes. But only on long road trips, as I like to enjoy my food but usually in the bush food is dross anyway so I tend to buy fast food when on the road.

  • +1

    Gotta eat chips from drive-thru while they're still hot.

  • I sometimes eat a whole Big Mac meal + mcnuggets on the Hume/Pacific highways while driving at 110km/h+. There's a reason they call it fast food after all.

    The trick is to lay out the napkins on your lap to catch any run away gherkins and to make the most of any traffic stoppages. It's like a nice little picnic :)

  • my mate used to pour a Bacardi & coke while he was doing doughnuts around a roundabout :p

  • I eat in the car but not while driving.

  • Am I the only one who enjoys eating other people's car? The seats are the best.

  • i once ate a whole pizza, thin and crispy, on the 10 minute drive home from pizza hut. back in 2004 when pizzas were bigger in diameter too.

  • my usual is 2 small whopper meals on the way home from work… i have big hands dont judge me

  • I don't eat, or allow people to eat in my car which is in a very good condition.

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