More than two in five drivers admit to tucking into food while at the wheel in the last few weeks, the survey from Sainsbury's Car Insurance showed.

More than a third (34 per cent) drove while feeling tired, 20 per cent drove while barefoot or when wearing flip flops, 17 per cent went over the speed limit and 14 per cent used a hand-held mobile phone.

Ten per cent owned up to driving after having had an alcoholic drink, while 10% took the controls without wearing a seatbelt.

Also, 8 per cent admitted texting while driving and 3 per cent applied make-up while at the wheel.

Of the 1,012 people polled, 68 per cent admitted to some form of dangerous driving during July 2007.

The biggest offenders were people in Wales and the west of England, where the offence rate was as high as 80 per cent. Most law-abiding were those in north-west England (59 per cent).

Sainsbury's Car Insurance manager Lucy Hunter said: "It can be easy to become complacent behind the wheel of a car especially when driving regular routes but our advice is to stay alert and safe and don't allow yourself to be distracted. Just one mistake could have terrible consequences.

"Unfortunately, many motorists may not have considered the dangers behind some of their actions."