Many factors can come into the picture when there is a motor vehicle wreck. One cause of these tragedies is impaired driving. Around 29 percent of fatalities caused by drunk drivers in the United States occur in New Jersey. The most recent data note that in 2017, alcohol-related crashes claimed 10,874 lives in this state.
The problem of drunk driving isn’t new. It has been around for a long time, but it appears to finally be improving a tiny bit. The number of fatalities decreased by 1.1 percent from 2016 to 2017. Despite this improvement, there is still a lot of work that must be done.
What the statistics show
The statistics show that you are more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident at night than during the day. The rate of nighttime crashes is nearly four times more than daytime ones. You are also more likely to be involved in one on weekends than weekdays. Around 28 percent of drivers were impaired in weekend crashes, but only around 15 of them were impaired on weekdays.
With this information in mind, drivers have an idea of when they need to be even more cautious. It is imperative that anyone who is on the road knows what signs to look for.
Signs of impaired driving
There are many things that can signal that a driver is too impaired to drive. Here are a few of the more common signs to watch for:
- Tailgating other vehicles
- Stopping suddenly or erratically
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Accelerating or decelerating quickly
- Not using headlights at night
- Failing to obey traffic control signs or signals
- Making illegal or sudden turns
- Nearly striking objects on the side of the road
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
If you notice any of these, try to remain away from them if it is safe to do so. Additionally, contact 911, if you can do so without any safety concerns. This could mean pulling over to the shoulder of the road to make the call, which can also get you away from the suspected impaired driver.
Drunk driving crashes aren’t always fatal. They sometimes lead to serious injuries. If you are involved in one, be sure to contact emergency services and get the medical care that you need. You may also opt to seek compensation for the damages that you have to deal with because of the crash.
