More an American thing, I think. Here in Canada (specifically British Columbia), eating or drinking while driving is considered distracted driving, and police will issue a fine of $368 and 6 driver penalty points.

I have never gotten or even heard about someone getting a ticket for eating/drinking while driving. It would be national news if someone got one of these tickets. Going through the drive-through for a cup of coffee and drinking it on your way to work is part of the norm here, dare I say that it’s part of our national identity.

Sure, it’s technically a crime. But it’s never enforced unless you’re being extremely negligent, just like jay walking. I think officers use the rule of “did you cause other drivers to take action to avoid you?” when enforcing this.

Drinking from a straw in a cup would be the least distracting action most drivers I see would ever take. Much less distracting than playing games on the phone, applying makeup, reading, etc.

If Europe had cities as far apart as America does, it would be different.

Remember that North America has states and provinces larger than some European countries.

Heck, there are American COUNTIES larger than 23 European nations.

The size of the countries doesn't matter that much. Almost 1% of workers in the EU cross country borders in their daily commutes. Close to half a million of French residents, for example.

And close to four million people cross the border into New York City from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Connecticut each day, too. What's your point?