Yes, a cup of coffee certainly can be a driving distraction.
Many people buy coffee every day during their morning commute into the office, so they do not think of it as distracted driving in the same way that they look at texting and driving. But that driver is distracted and could be more likely to cause a car accident.
In this sense, drinking a cup of coffee is probably one of the most common distractions on the road, even if drivers are unaware of it as it happens.
3 forms of distraction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify three different types of distraction, which are:
- Cognitive distractions
- Physical distractions
- Visual distractions
The problem with drinking coffee behind the wheel is that it fits into all of these categories. It is a cognitive distraction when the driver is thinking about picking the coffee up or setting it back down again, rather than thinking about operating the vehicle. It is a physical distraction because they have to take their hand off of the wheel to take a drink. It is also a visual distraction because they may tip their head back as they drink, tipping the cup up in front of their face and blocking part of their field of vision.
Do you deserve financial compensation?
Even if you save your cup of coffee for the office and never drink behind the wheel, you could be injured in an accident caused by another negligent driver. If so, you need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.
