I was flossing my teeth while driving, and I got a warning...an excessive appeal

Nov 14, 2025

In China, a man was cracked down on for biting a dental floss in his mouth while driving.

Online, the pros and cons of "excessive crackdown" and "maintain attention" are confronting each other.

According to Chinese media, including Dhawan News, Chen, who lives in Mushuk, Jiangsu Province, was holding an interdental toothbrush rod in his mouth because he felt bored while driving.

However, the next day, I received a warning notice from the police for `other acts that interfere with safe driving while driving.'

"I drove normally, holding the steering wheel with both hands, looking ahead," Mr. Chen said. "The attention was not distracted and there was no problem with driving. This kind of disposition is too excessive."

Later, he raised objections through the app, but a police official said, `If driving with dental floss leads to distraction or manipulation, it interferes with safe driving," he replied.

Under China's Road Traffic Safety Act, drivers who violate road traffic regulations can be fined 20 to 200 yuan (4,000 to 40,000 won). In fact, it is said that it is common to be punished for smoking while driving.

One police officer said, "There is no provision in the Traffic Act against flossing, but any act of biting teeth, toothpicks, gum, etc. while driving is considered to interfere with normal traffic" he said.

However, another official expressed conflicting opinions, saying, `If you drove normally without letting go of the handle, it is not illegal to bite the floss.'

Netizens are also divided over the criticism that "excessive crackdown" and that "maintaining attention while driving is the top priority".