Most people prefer to have a cup of coffee during their morning commute to work or school. However, the moment you reach for your coffee while trying to keep an eye on the road, the chances of that sip turning into a distracted driving incident are very high.
How can coffee distract you?
Virginia doesn’t have a specific rule that bans eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages behind the wheel. However, a morning cup of coffee can be a serious distraction while operating a vehicle. Drinking coffee while driving could cause all the major types of driving distractions, including:
- Manual distraction: Taking at least one hand off the steering wheel to hold, lift or sip the coffee while driving can easily distract you from a slowing or braking vehicle up front.
- Visual distraction: Taking your eyes off the road to adjust a loose lid or to deal with a splash could result in missing a pedestrian stepping into the road.
- Cognitive distraction: Your mental focus might shift away from the road, if the coffee is too hot or spills on your clothes, leading to a delayed reaction and avoidable crashes.
Virginia is one of the states that enforces a strict pure contributory negligence rule. That means if your distracted driving contributed to a crash, even to a smaller degree, you could be barred from recovering damages under Virginia’s pure contributory negligence rule.
Keeping safe driving habits
A comforting cup of coffee can also turn into a costly liability if you are not being careful. Taking a few extra minutes to finish your coffee could help improve the safety for yourself and others on the road. If you or your loved ones ever face a car crash-related injury, seeking the guidance of an experienced attorney could help you safeguard your rights and understand your recovery options.
