Millions of drivers all over the UK are being urged to ditch a very common car habit if they want to avoid potentially receiving a hefty fine. 

When you're behind the wheel, you have the responsibility to make sure you're paying close attention to the road ahead of you, in order to avoid any accidents. 

That's why there are certain rules and laws in place to keep road users as safe as possible - and breaking them often comes with a penalty. 

Now, motorists are being warned that eating while driving - something that many people do - is a habit worth quitting in order to avoid being fined potentially £5,000. 

That's according to experts at ATS Euromaster who have sounded the alarm and alerted drivers of the dangers this behaviour can cause. 

The pros warned that snacking whilst behind the wheel, which is a huge trend on social media at the moment, isn't as harmless as it might seem. 

We've all done it - reaching for sweets or crisps to satisfy our hunger on a particularly long journey. But taking your eyes off the road for even a couple of seconds could spell disaster. 

The experts say that the act of eating while driving is classified as careless driving under the UK highway code. Drivers could face an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points on their licence.

However, in more serious cases where this behaviour leads to dangerous driving, the penalty could rise to £5,000, nine points on the licence, and even a driving ban. 

This was echoed by the RAC, who highlighted that although it's not illegal to eat while driving, doing so could stil land you in trouble. 

And the same goes for drinking too. Just like eating behind the wheel, taking a drink of water or coffee while you’re driving isn't against the law, but it could carry the same careless driving penalty if you’re accused of being distracted.

Having said that, sometimes it can be more dangerous not to have a drink in the car with you. Scientists at Loughborough University found that driving while dehydrated can be just as dangerous as drink-driving.

This is because dehydration can cause a loss of focus and lead to drowsiness and slower reaction times.

So if you’re heading off on a long journey - especially if it's warm out - stay hydrated by carrying a bottle of water in your car.