Drinking mate while driving is a typical postcard on Argentine roads. Thermos in hand, light bulb ready and kilometers ahead – the scene repeats itself, especially as the summer holidays and long weekends approach, moments when thousands of families make their way to various tourist destinations in the country.
However, that Such an ingrained habit can not only pose a risk to road safety, but it can also be costly.: In some provinces, drinking mate or drinking mate while driving is grounds for fines, even if the national traffic law does not specifically prohibit it.
The key is not in the drink, but in control of the vehicle. National regulations specify this The driver must keep both hands on the steering wheela condition that leaves little room for IVs while walking. With heavy traffic, high temperatures and long journeys, any distraction can become a deciding factor in the event of an unexpected maneuver.
On this basis Certain jurisdictions introduced stricter regulations and imposed fines if they assume that the maneuver will result in a loss of effective control of the vehicle. In MendozaFor example, Drinking mate while driving is considered a serious offense.
He Decree 326/18 of Law 9024 demands that The driver retains “effective control of the vehicle.”which implies Drive with both hands on the steering wheelwith the exception of justified exceptions such as gear changes. The penalty reaches 1000 fixed units, which is equivalent to ($500) at the value of the UF from 2026 a fine of $500,000.
Córdoba also punishes this behavioralbeit with a significantly lower amount. There it is framed unsafe driving concepta category that includes both smoking and drinking mate while driving. The fine is 20 fixed units, lor which is equivalent to about $33,920 todayprovided that each UF has a value of $1696.
One point to keep in mind is this: In both provinces, these violations can be detected through surveillance cameras. In other words, it is not necessary for a traffic police officer to stop the driver at the moment: a video recording may be enough to send the fine straight home, which is especially relevant on busy routes in high season.
The arguments behind these sanctions point to road safety. According to the website “Traffic Alerts” At 100 km/h a vehicle travels about 28 meters per second. Yes The driver spends just four seconds sucking or drinking mate, blindly traveling a distance equivalent to an entire block. In summer, when traffic flow increases and braking distance can be affected by the weight of the car loaded with luggage and passengers, this margin can be critical.
There are also other risks: Hot water or grass can cause burns, sudden reactions or distractionsand the light bulb can become a dangerous element in the event of an accident. In addition, in the event of an impact, both the mate and the thermos can become projectiles in the passenger compartment. Even common maneuvers like avoiding a pothole, braking hard, or navigating an unexpected traffic jam become riskier when the driver only has one hand on the wheel or is focused on manipulating the passenger.
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