Molly-Mae Hague is blasted by road safety charities for eating chicken nuggets while behind the wheel of her £180k Mercedes 4x4 - and why she could even be prosecuted

Molly-Mae Hague has been blasted by road safety charities for eating behind the wheel of her £180,000 Mercedes-Benz 4x4 in her new Amazon Prime documentary series.

Charities including the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and IAM RoadSmart, formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists, have condemned the influencer for consuming a takeaway meal while driving and advised she take a break to eat, or wait until she gets home.

They also warned of the potential ‘devastating consequences’ of Molly-Mae’s actions, urged her to ‘prioritise safety above all else’, and warned she could face prosecution.

In footage from episode one of Behind It All, Molly-Mae orders a McDonalds meal at a drive thru while sitting in her luxury car. 

She orders a large chicken Big Mac meal, six chicken nuggets, and a mozzarella dipper sharebox. The order was finished off with three dips: curry, ketchup, and BBQ.

Moments later as Molly-Mae is driving the Mercedes-Benz G-Class wagon the former Love Islander is seen eating chicken nuggets as the camera cuts to the speedometer, which shows her travelling at 61mph.

Molly-Mae tells her millions of young viewers: ‘I love food like I actually live to eat. So many people that are around me are like ‘I’ll just get the salad’ and that could never be me. If it’s salad with chips then yeah I’m on board.’

But her mid-drive scoff has not gone down well with campaigners for road safety, and even warn that it could lead to prosecution.

Spokesperson for IAM RoadSmart Harriet Hernando said: ‘While it’s not illegal to eat while driving, anything that takes your attention away from the road is distracting, and the police can prosecute for careless driving.’

‘Even in dry conditions, if you’re travelling at 60mph and eating, and you’re suddenly forced to slam the brakes on in an emergency, it’ll take you over 70 metres to come to a stop.

‘If you’re distracted, you may even fail to brake at all which risks a huge collision. Then there’s the risks posed by spilling hot food on your lap, which may cause an involuntary reaction.

‘All this puts other road users at risk and dramatically increases the chances of crashing and killing or seriously injuring someone.

‘There needs to be more awareness, especially among young drivers, that this isn’t acceptable behaviour: IAM RoadSmart research of the driving habits of 18-26 year-olds found that nearly half (46%) admitted to eating behind the wheel.’

‘Our advice to Molly-Mae Hague is to avoid eating while driving and take a break instead.’

Her sentiments were echoed by Caitlin Taylor, the Road Safety Manager at the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. 

She told Mail Online: ‘Eating, drinking, or engaging in any activity that takes your hands off the wheel or your mind off the road can significantly increase the risk of a collision. 

'Distracted driving is a major contributor to road collisions, with reaction times slowed and the ability to respond to hazards severely reduced. In 2023, in-vehicle distractions contributed to 754 road collisions that resulted in fatalities or serious injuries.’

‘Driving at high speeds - where permitted - also demands a driver’s full concentration to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers, and other road users. Even a momentary distraction, such as eating a snack, can lead to devastating consequences.’

‘As an organisation committed to preventing accidents, RoSPA urges all drivers to prioritise safety above all else. Simple steps, such as eating before setting off or stopping for a break when you need to eat, can make a real difference in reducing risks.’

A study by the University of Leeds found that drivers who ate while driving were 44% slower to react than normal. This is because eating can distract drivers and take their focus away from the road.

While it is not illegal to eat while driving, the RAC has warned that if drivers get distracted while snacking behind the wheel, the police could prosecute them for careless driving if they consider you to not be in proper control of the vehicle, an offence which carries an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points.

Julie Townsend, the former deputy chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, has previously spoken out against eating behind the wheel. 

She said: 'Driving is the most complicated and risky thing most of us do on a regular basis, so it is vital we give it our full and undivided attention; we can't afford to treat our cars as an extension of our kitchen or bathroom. 

'Eating at the wheel often means taking your eyes, hands and mind off the road and dramatically increases your chances of crashing and killing or seriously injuring someone.'

It comes after Molly admitting she 'hasn't been honest with anyone' in her new documentary, Behind It All.

The six-part series aims to reveal the true Molly-Mae, going behind the headlines and tracking her life post-breakup with Tommy Fury.

In the new tell-all series, the influencer shows how she juggles being a mum to daughter Bambi, managing her brand Maebe and the pressure of being in the public eye as well as addressing her highly publicised split.