Chances are you eat or drink while driving. Everybody does.

But is what you’re consuming on the list of the “10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving“? Chances are it is.

Here’s the list courtesy of insure.com*:

1. Coffee
2. Hot soup
3. Tacos
4. Chili Dogs
5. Hamburgers
6. Barbecued food
7. Fried chicken
8. Jelly donuts
9. Soft drinks
10. Chocolate

(I’m definitely guilty of #1, #5, #9, lots of #10, and a very occasional #8.)

In some cases, it’s not just the act of eating or drinking that’s the issue. It’s the resulting sticky fingers and the drips and spills on the steering wheel or your clothes post pig-out that cause the problem!

Of course food and drink are just some of the distractions (how about talking to others in the car, using a cell phone, changing the radio station or CD, programming the GPS, etc.) that when combined with the sudden need to swerve, slow down, or negotiate a curve in the road, can cause accidents.

I commute 75 km to work each day on a busy highway. I’ve seen drivers do many dumb things while at the wheel: eat cereal (with a spoon…from a bowl!), apply make-up, shave, read a paperback, text, write in a notebook…..

I should confess I’m not completely innocent when it comes to multi-tasking while driving. I have mixed a salad, wrapped a gift, and made notes for a presentation while behind the wheel. Not at the same time, mind you. And while stopped at lights, not while driving. Still, rather foolish things to be doing while I should be concentrating on driving, for the sake of myself and everyone else on the road!

(*Here’s the complete article including some safety tips while driving.)