It's tempting if you're in a hurry. It's something most people have done at one time or another. But eating is a dangerous distraction while you're driving.

The term "distracted driving" refers to anything that takes your eyes, hands or mind away from driving. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to several surveys by insurance companies and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to a 2006 study released by the NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction within three seconds before the crash.

"Most car accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention," says Eric Bolton, an NHTSA spokesman.

In addition to food and beverages, other common distractions include outside accidents, adjusting the radio, children, pets, objects moving in the vehicle, talking or texting on a cell phone, smoking, putting on makeup, shaving and reading.

"Distraction was most likely to be involved in rear-end collisions in which the lead vehicle was stopped, and in single-vehicle crashes," reports the NHTSA.

A restraining order against food

Hagerty Classic Insurance, a provider of classic-car insurance, began looking more closely at the problem of eating behind the wheel after a DMV check on an insurance applicant turned up a "restraining order" against anything edible within his reach while driving.

Hagerty President McKeel Hagerty says his company also often receives claims for damage to the interiors of classic cars caused by food. "It's tough to replace original wool carpets or particular colors of leather seats," he says.

In looking at the company's claims history, Hagerty found that drivers had the most problems during morning commutes, when spills were likely to mar their work attire. Many of those motorists ran into trouble when trying to clean up spills while still driving.

"It really seems it's more the spill than the eating," says Hagerty. "Anything that drips is probably not a good idea."

Hagerty and his staff did a study of their own to see which foods are the worst offenders. They rated foods commonly consumed in vehicles according to each item's popularity, as well as the degree of distraction and the difficulty of eating it with only one hand on the wheel.

Coffee tops the list because of its tendency to spill. Even in cups with travel lids, somehow the liquid finds its way out when you drive over a bump, says Hagerty. "I've certainly spilled my share of coffee while I'm driving, and it's not when I'm trying to drink, it's when I hit bumps in the road."

As if the stains aren't bad enough, hot coffee can also burn, further distracting drivers.

Tips for safe driving

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California lists 14 items as major causes of driver distraction. Eating and drinking are among them.

"From breakfast burritos to burgers and fries, eating on the run has turned into an everyday part of our lives," its report says. "Eating while driving is not only dangerous, it's messy and . . . means you're not watching the road."

The Berkeley Lab offers the following tips for drivers tempted to eat and drive:

• Leave a bit earlier to allow yourself time to stop and eat.

• If you're traveling with someone, take turns eating and driving.

Other tips for driving safely:

• Keep your eyes on the road.

• Review maps before hitting the road.

• Do your personal grooming at home.

• Use the memory dial feature on your cell phone whenever possible.

• Keep your hands on the wheel.

• Preset your radio stations.

• Don't try to retrieve items that fall to the floor.

• Avoid smoking, eating and drinking while driving.

• Avoid taking calls while driving.

• Teach your children the importance of good behavior in cars.

• Keep your mind on the ride.

• Ask a passenger to serve as your "co-pilot."

• Avoid stressful/emotional/confrontational conversations either with a passenger or on your cell phone.