An unbelievable 84 per cent of female UK motorists are skipping meals and driving on an empty stomach.
Research has revealed that more than three quarters of female motorists drive whilst hungry, despite the fact that nearly half admit that it causes them to lose concentration and for 40 per cent, it increases their tiredness on the road.
The research, conducted by Sheilas’ Wheels, reveals the top reasons women are not eating before getting behind the wheel:
1. Slips their mind until their journey has started (34 per cent)
2. Hectic lifestyle (28 per cent)
3. Don’t like driving when full (12 per cent)
4. Dieting (5 per cent)
But it’s not only the female motorists who skip meals and drive hungry that are putting themselves and their passengers in danger...56 per cent of women drivers admit that they break the law by snacking behind the wheel in order to save time.
Consequently, it is estimated that more than 370,000 female motorists have experienced an accident or ‘near miss’ when snacking, as they frequently take their hands off the wheel to unwrap or eat food. And almost half of women (46 per cent) admit to unwrapping sweets while they are driving.
The most common reasons cited by women for eating whilst driving include: convenience (40 per cent), lack of time to eat at home (32 per cent), enjoyment (13 per cent) and boredom (9 per cent).
Unsurprisingly, busy mums find it particularly hard to keep from snacking when behind the wheel – almost a quarter (24 per cent) of mums prioritise ensuring their kids have eaten a proper meal before they leave the house but only a worrying 6 per cent make sure they don’t get behind the wheel with an empty stomach.
Even when planning a longer journey, only 14 per cent of women will factor in time for a break which will allow them to get out of their car and eat, and a mere 3 per cent think about eating appropriate food – like slow releasing energy foods - to keep them satisfied before embarking on a journey.
Gloria Thomas, lifestyle coach and fitness expert, commented:
“For some women maintaining busy lifestyles and organising their time efficiently can be a real challenge. To combat their time poor lifestyles, female motorists are using their car as an extended space to catch up on the every-day necessities, such as eating, or perhaps even worse, they are driving on an empty stomach.”
Gloria Thomas has compiled five top tips to avoid skipping meals and snacking whilst driving:
 Make time management part of your daily routine so that you are not forced to eat on the go. Prioritise tasks at the beginning of the day, factoring in time to eat a well balanced meal
Don’t forget to stop regularly for breaks if you are on a long journey and make sure you eat well before setting off
To avoid temptation, put all food in the boot of your car so that it is out of your reach once behind the wheel
Before you head off on your journey, eat foods that will give you energy and keep you fully alert, such as porridge, roasted vegetables, fresh salads and juices
Where possible, travel with someone you can share the driving with so that you are able to eat when you are not in the driving seat
Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels commented:
“Today’s modern woman is constantly on the go and has an increasingly busy lifestyle, which is why we are appealing to all female motorists to take the time to properly plan their car journeys before leaving the house. Eat before you step into your car and try to stick to foods that will enhance your concentration and driving ability. Driving with a rumbling stomach or a whilst eating a sandwich or chocolate bar can only spell disaster.”
June 2008
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