It may be a surprise to you, but your daily cup of coffee may be the most dangerous thing you enjoy on your morning commute to work. This is because coffee distracts drivers in all three of the distracted driving categories: visual distractions, cognitive distractions, and physical distractions. Below are descriptions of the way drinking coffee while operating a motor vehicle falls into all classifications of distracted driving.
Coffee Can Be a Visual Distraction
Drinking a morning coffee while driving may seem like a routine habit for many, but it can be a dangerous distraction on the road. Visual distractions are a key danger posed by coffee drinking while driving. When tipping the head back to swallow coffee, the eyes are no longer focused on the road. This can lead to accidents in a matter of seconds.
If you look down to grab your coffee cup or to manipulate it into the cup holder, you participate in visual distraction. Although your attention and eyes only be distracted from the road for seconds, your reaction time shortens immensely.
Many drivers admit to looking down at their coffee cup when hitting a bump or pothole in the road since these small bumps cause spills.
The dangers of visual distractions while drinking coffee should not be underestimated. Therefore, it is important for drivers to take safety precautions while driving and avoid consuming coffee or other distractions that can put their life and the lives of others on the road in danger.
Coffee Can Be a Cognitive Distraction
Coffee is a beloved beverage that provides much-needed energy, especially during the morning hours when you are heading out to work. However, drinking coffee while driving can pose a significant risk to road safety.
Drinking coffee while driving can distract you cognitively since you may be thinking about whether your coffee is cool enough to drink, whether you should take a sip at that moment or at the next light, or other matters involving your beverage. Because your mind is occupied with other matters aside from the road, your reaction time may decrease significantly.
One of the main ways coffee can serve as a cognitive distraction is by diverting your attention away from the road. While taking a sip of coffee may seem harmless, it can cause a momentary lapse in focus that could lead to a distracted driving accident.
Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating which can impair driving abilities.
Coffee Can Be a Physical Distraction
You are physically distracted when drinking coffee and driving since one of your hands is holding your coffee cup, leaving only one hand on the steering wheel. This reduces your ability to react to a road condition or another driver’s maneuvers.
Additionally, many people spill their coffee when driving, causing more distractions. This not only causes physical pain and discomfort but can also result in significant physical distractions, taking your attention off the road. The consequences of a momentary lapse in focus can be fatal, especially while driving on highways or at high speeds.
Physically handling a coffee cup and taking a sip requires you to take your hands off the steering wheel, momentarily taking your eyes off the road. This can interrupt your driving skills and lead to delayed reaction times and decreased driving performance.